Kimi Antonelli of Mercedes
Italian teenager Kimi Antonelli, the youngest championship leader in Formula 1 history, aims to secure a third consecutive victory this weekend as the series resumes after a month-long hiatus caused by the conflict in the Middle East.
The 19-year-old Mercedes driver, who triumphed in China and Japan, holds a nine-point lead over teammate George Russell—winner of the season-opening Australian Grand Prix. This weekend effectively marks the start of a new season, with revised regulations and widespread car upgrades for the Miami Grand Prix.
“After a month without racing, we are ready to get back on track,” said Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff. “We used this break to analyze the early races, address our weaknesses, and raise our level.
“We started the season well, but that counts for little if you stand still. We know our competitors will have used this time to improve and deepen their understanding of their cars, so we expect the grid to be more competitive in Miami. That’s the reality of F1—a challenge we must face.”
Antonelli’s earlier wins made him the first Italian driver since Alberto Ascari in 1953 to win two consecutive races. Ascari completed a hat-trick that same season.
Wolff also addressed the regulatory tweaks coming to Miami, designed to make the cars and the spectacle more natural. These changes include a reduction in battery recharging during qualifying and an increase in power for the supersoft tires to reduce dangerous speed differentials.
He stated that the revised rules “will respect the DNA of our sport” and deliver a better show without significantly diminishing Mercedes’ early-season performance advantage.
For Mercedes, Sunday’s race is an opportunity to claim its first win in Florida since the event began five years ago. The Miami GP has been won twice by four-time champion Max Verstappen for Red Bull and twice by McLaren—one victory each for world champion Lando Norris and his teammate Oscar Piastri.
Ferrari, along with McLaren, arrives in Miami with an almost “completely new” car featuring a heavily revised package, and both teams are expected to be strong contenders.
“It was one of our best circuits in terms of pace compared to others last year,” said Norris. “It’s a different track and it might still suit us a bit more than others.”
After winning in 2022 and 2023, Verstappen aims to halt Mercedes’ winning streak and revive Red Bull’s challenge following a discouraging start. He sits ninth with 12 points, 60 behind Antonelli, while teammate Isack Hadjar is 12th with four.
Ferrari’s duo of Charles Leclerc and seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton are third and fourth with 49 and 41 points respectively. Many paddock observers believe they are primed to fight for their first victory since Carlos Sainz won in Mexico in October 2024.
Leclerc’s eighth and most recent win came in Austin, Texas, shortly before Sainz’s triumph, while Hamilton pursues his 106th career victory—the first since the 2024 Belgian Grand Prix—before his move to Ferrari. After an uneven first year, the Briton said he is relishing the challenge of a new formula that has helped him rediscover his racing mojo.
“We’re all recharged after the break,” said Russell, echoing the sentiments of most drivers. “I hope we can pick up where we left off.”