F1 back on track in Miami with rule tweaks in focus after forced break

MIAMI, April 29 : Formula One gets back on track in Miami this weekend, after a forced April break, with rule tweaks and car upgrades adding a fresh twist while teenage championship leader Kimi Antonelli chases his third win in a row for Mercedes.

The first U.S. race of the sport's new era is the fourth round of the 2026 season after grands prix in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia had to be shelved due to the Iran war and fallout in the Gulf region.

In the absence of cars on track, the development race has continued at full speed with teams seeking to close the gap to early leaders Mercedes and end their run of three wins in three.

Champions McLaren, last year's winners in Miami in both the Saturday 100km sprint and Sunday race with Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri respectively, have said they will bring a "completely new car" while Ferrari and Red Bull have also been pushing hard to bring performance.

"Last year (Miami) was one of our best tracks of the season in terms of pace compared to others," said Norris of the circuit around the Hard Rock Stadium.

"It's a different track and it might still just suit the car a little bit more than some other places."

NO WINNER FROM POLE IN FOUR EDITIONS

There has yet to be a winner from a front row start in Miami, after four editions to date, and it is also a rare circuit where Mercedes have yet to triumph. 

Reigning champion Norris took his first career win there in 2024 and also won last year's sprint before having to settle for second in the main race behind Piastri. Before them, Red Bull's four-times world champion Max Verstappen won in 2022 and 2023.

Antonelli made headlines last year when the Italian, then 18, became the youngest pole-sitter in any F1 format after sprint qualifying and he