After an unexpected five-week pause that teams used to refine their 2026 cars, Formula 1 returns next week for the Miami Grand Prix. Here are five key questions to watch as the season resumes.
Will Mercedes still lead and can Russell respond to Antonelli?
Mercedes arrived at the break having won the opening three races and leading both the Drivers’ and Teams’ standings, but they haven’t been idle. The Brackley outfit will have spent the extra time improving an already strong chassis and development package. They dominated qualifying in every round to date, though Japan hinted rivals have closed in during race trim — and reliability remains a concern they must address.
On form and on paper Mercedes are still the benchmark and should be competitive in Miami. The intra-team battle between George Russell and Kimi Antonelli adds an intriguing subplot. Russell looked assured across pre-season testing and ran the show in Australia, yet small issues in the following rounds curtailed his momentum. Antonelli, in his second season, seized the opportunity with wins in China and Japan and now leads the championship — becoming one of F1’s youngest front-runners. Russell will back his experience and progress at Mercedes, but Antonelli’s rapid growth and confidence make this a duel to follow closely as the year unfolds.
How good is McLaren’s completely new car?
Defending champions McLaren had a patchy start to 2026 after a massive late-season push in 2025. They were off the pace in Australia, failed to start in China, but bounced back strongly in Japan with Oscar Piastri fighting for victory and claiming the team’s first podium of the year. Team principal Andrea Stella says McLaren now understands the Mercedes power unit better and have the tools to extract performance.
Crucially, McLaren will bring a “completely new car” to Miami and Canada as part of a planned development step. Their recent history of frequent, high-impact upgrades suggests this could deliver significant lap-time gains. If the chassis and integration live up to expectations, Lando Norris and Piastri could be competitive for wins and remain in both championship fights — though they acknowledge Mercedes will be hard to dislodge.
Can Ferrari give Hamilton and Leclerc a car to win?
Ferrari’s start to the year has lifted spirits in Maranello. Fred Vasseur’s decision last April to halt further development of the 2025 car and focus on the 2026 design appears to be paying dividends: the team sits comfortably in the top three early on. Charles Leclerc has two podiums from three races, and Lewis Hamilton looks rejuvenated, enjoying his driving again.
Ferrari have shown innovative thinking — including the flippy rear wing — but pure pace for victories has so far eluded them. All eyes will be on Miami’s upgrade package to see whether Ferrari can close the remaining gap to Mercedes and hold off a charging McLaren when circuits suit all parties.
Can Red Bull haul themselves out of the midfield?
Red Bull’s 2026 has been a surprise in the opposite direction. Their new Ford-partnered power unit has delivered notable reliability and performance, but the chassis is underdeveloped and tricky to balance. That has left Max Verstappen and Isack Hadjar contesting midfield scraps rather than front-running battles, and Red Bull sit well down the order in the Teams’ standings after three races.
Historically the team has staged remarkable recoveries after slow starts, most notably in 2022, but clawing back large deficits with 19 races remaining is a tall order. Red Bull’s capacity to adapt and bring effective upgrades will determine whether they can convert engine strength into a complete package capable of returning to title contention.
Can Aston Martin and Williams bounce back?
Two other high-profile projects have struggled. Williams missed the Barcelona shakedown due to production delays and have been hampered by an overweight car; the shutdown provided an opportunity to target weight reductions and prepare their first in-season upgrade. Aston Martin’s switch to Honda power has experienced early reliability headaches, though steps taken during the break aimed to improve dependability. Technical leaders at both teams acknowledge significant chassis work remains.
Both squads will put a lot into Miami upgrades, hoping their gains outpace those of rivals. Whether either can leap into the midfield fight depends on how meaningful those updates are and how effectively they resolve their respective issues.
What to expect in Miami
The five-week gap gave every team a rare window to regroup. Mercedes look set to remain the team to beat, but McLaren’s major chassis update and Ferrari’s continuing development make the front pack dynamic. Red Bull must find chassis solutions to match their strong engine, while Aston Martin and Williams aim to arrest poor starts with meaningful improvements.
Expect close strategic battles, upgrades tested under race conditions, and intensified intra-team fights — notably Mercedes’ Russell vs Antonelli and McLaren’s Piastri vs Norris — as teams reveal how well they used the break to sharpen their 2026 campaigns.