Antonelli targets third straight win as Formula One resumes in Miami

MIAMI: Formula One returns this weekend at the Miami Grand Prix after a month-long break caused by the Middle East war, with Mercedes teenager Kimi Antonelli aiming to secure a third successive victory of the season.

The 19-year-old Italian, who won in China and Japan, arrives in Florida as the championship leader and the youngest driver ever to top the Formula One standings. He holds a nine-point advantage over Mercedes teammate George Russell, who won the opening race of the season in Australia.

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff said the team had used the pause in the calendar to review its early performances and work on areas that needed improvement. "After a month without any racing, we are ready to get back on track," Wolff said. He added: "We've used this break to analyse the opening races, address our weaknesses and rase our level."

Wolff said Mercedes had made a strong start, but cautioned that rivals would also have made gains during the break. "We've started the season well, but that counts for very little if you stand still. We know our competitors will have used this time to improve and build a deeper understanding of their cars so we expect the field to be closer in Miami," he said, adding: "That's the reality of F1 – it's a challenge we must rise to."

Antonelli chases Italian milestone

Antonelli's back-to-back wins made him the first Italian since Alberto Ascari in 1953 to claim victory in two consecutive Formula One races. Ascari went on to complete a run of three wins that season, a mark Antonelli will now try to match in Miami.

The race weekend is also set to begin what is effectively a fresh phase of the season, with revised regulations coming into force and teams introducing major upgrades. Wolff said the rule changes, which are intended to make the cars and the racing feel more natural, would reduce battery re-charging in qualifying and increase super-clipping power to cut dangerous speed differences. He said the revised rules would "respect the DNA of our sport" and improve the spectacle without causing any major drop in Mercedes' early-season edge.

Mercedes are also seeking their first Miami Grand Prix victory since the race was added to the calendar five years ago. Max Verstappen has won the event twice for Red Bull, while McLaren have also taken two wins, one each through world champion Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri.

McLaren and Ferrari expected to challenge

Saturday's sprint race offers another chance for teams to collect points. Norris won that contest last year, and McLaren are expected to be among the main contenders again. The team have arrived with an almost "completely new car" through a heavily revised package.

Norris said Miami had suited McLaren well in terms of outright speed last year. "It was one of our best tracks for pure pace, compared to others, last year," he said. "It's a different track and it may still suit us a little more than others."

Ferrari are also widely seen as strong contenders for the weekend. Charles Leclerc and seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton are third and fourth in the standings on 49 and 41 points respectively. Paddock observers, believe Ferrari could be in position to challenge for their first win since Carlos Sainz triumphed in Mexico in October 2024.

Leclerc's eighth and most recent win came at Austin, Texas, shortly before Sainz's success, while Hamilton is pursuing the 106th victory of his career and his first since the 2024 Belgian Grand Prix, before his move to Ferrari. After a desultory first year, Hamilton said he is enjoying the challenge of the new formula and has rediscovered his racing rhythm.

Verstappen and Cadillac in focus

Verstappen, who won in Miami in 2022 and 2023, will be trying to halt Mercedes' momentum and revive Red Bull's campaign after a difficult opening to the year. He is ninth in the standings with 12 points, 60 behind Antonelli, while teammate Isack Hadjar is 12th with four points.

Russell said the break had left drivers refreshed ahead of the restart. "We're all re-charged after the break," he said. "I'm hoping we can continue where we left off."

The weekend will also mark Cadillac's first race appearance on home soil in the United States. Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas are set to run at Hard Rock Stadium in a new American livery.