Mercedes Dominates Miami Practice, Red Bull Closes Gap

0:00It's May 1st. This is F1 News Today, your AI-powered team coverage. Mercedes topped the long-run charts in Miami's extended 90-minute practice, gathering key data for heavy fuel stints ahead of those 20. 26 rule changes. Kimi Antonelli edged his teammate George Russell by a tiny 0.03 seconds per lap when adjusted for tires and stint links, putting. The silver arrows weigh out front. Ferrari's Charles LeClaire, trailed by 0.33 seconds per lap, with Lewis Hamilton fourth at 0.6 seconds off. That gap looks tighter than the season's early average of 0.53 for Ferrari, hinting chasers might be gaining a couple tints. McLaren sits third and race pace at 0.87 seconds behind, strong in corners, but losing on straights like the rest. Red Bull bounced back with seven updates. Max Verstappen now just 0.88 seconds off Mercedes, and 84 tenths better than before.

1:00They crushed top speeds at 333 kilometers per hour in the final sector, though corners still hurt. Team made Isaac Hadjar lagged two seconds back in midfield. Alpine's Franco-Colapinto led the pack there at 1.32 seconds off, followed by a hostile Esteban Okon and Oliver Bareman. Williams' Carlos Signs surprised nearby, while racing bulls and Cadillac struggled way down. Red Bull burned an extra set of medium tires early, which could bite since those are key for sprint calls, the sprint race, and Sunday's Grand Prix. With low degradation, expected in dry conditions, expect straight forward one-stop races all weekend.