Ferrari emphasise 'more-important-than-usual' aspect of Miami GP

Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur has highlighted how critical preparing thoroughly for the Miami Grand Prix will be, as the F1 paddock embarks on the second sprint weekend of the season. Like last year, the annual trip to Florida will offer teams just one hour of practice to get dialled into the Miami International Autodrome before sprint qualifying on Friday evening. Therefore, the Ferrari team principal has highlighted the need for his squad to make the most of simulator work and pre-weekend meetings. It has been a difficult start to the campaign for the Scuderia. After finishing a close second to McLaren in the constructors' championship last term, the hope - aided by the arrival of Lewis Hamilton - was the Italian team could kick on and claim a first title since 2008. However, the SF-25 has disappointed thus far and Hamilton has struggled to adapt to the new machinery. Aside from the British driver's sprint victory at the Chinese Grand Prix, Ferrari did not secure a podium finish until Charles Leclerc's third place in Saudi Arabia. The Prancing Horse, which will showcase a special one-off livery in Miami , will be looking to build on performances in Bahrain and at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit that left Vassuer "encouraged" by the progress. "After several days spent in Maranello analysing the data acquired during the first triple-header of the season, we are ready to get back on track in Miami," the Frenchman said. "In many ways it’s a unique race for and over this weekend in Florida, we will also be celebrating the first anniversary of our partnership with title sponsor, HP. "It’s the second sprint weekend of the season and we have prepared thoroughly for it in the factory, to deal with only having one hour of free practice before heading straight into qualifying for Saturday's sprint race. "This means that the work on the simulator and in preparatory briefings is even more important than usual. We want to continue improving the performance of the SF-25, encouraged by the good progress seen in the Bahrain and Jeddah races."