Ferrari fixed a systems-related straight-line power loss that affected Lewis Hamilton at the Japanese Grand Prix in Suzuka, carrying the correction into the Miami Grand Prix weekend. Hamilton said the problem was not caused solely by Ferrari’s power unit but by a combination of systems and that the fault cost him roughly eight to nine tenths of straight-line speed. He reported a loss of power on track and asked his engineer for help with battery deployment during the race. A safety car initially put him third, but he slipped to sixth after being overtaken by several cars, including his Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc, who did not suffer the issue and finished third. Hamilton finished 25 seconds behind race winner Andrea Kimi Antonelli and entered Miami fourth in the Drivers’ Championship, eight points behind Leclerc.

Ferrari used the enforced break between rounds to conduct a deep-dive investigation, traced the root cause beyond the power unit, and implemented a fix ahead of the Miami Grand Prix. The team and Hamilton carried out simulator work and factory training aimed at identifying and resolving the systems interactions responsible for the straight-line deficit. Charles Leclerc also spent days in the factory and many simulator sessions correlating race data, testing the upgrades and adapting to the new cars and rules. Ferrari consolidated those development efforts into planned upgrades designed to improve competitiveness under the new regulations. With Hamilton’s specific issue resolved, the team said it may present a stronger challenge to the Mercedes duo in Miami.