F1 returns in Miami after extended break as teams prepare major upgrades
After an unexpected month-long break, Formula 1 is back, with the Miami International Autodrome hosting the sixth edition of the Miami Grand Prix.
This weekend will see the second sprint race of the season, with plenty of action to usher F1 back in.
Mercedes set early pace
After three exciting races done and dusted, there is a steady understanding of where every team stands heading into Miami.
Mercedes have enjoyed a strong start to the season, winning every Grand Prix and sprint race so far. They also had back-to-back one-two finishes in Australia and China.
In Japan, we saw McLaren have a complete turnaround. After a DNS and DNF in Australia, and a double DNS in China, Oscar Piastri finished second in Suzuka, while reigning world champion Lando Norris finished in P5.
Meanwhile, aside from Japan, Ferrari have been the second best team, often giving Mercedes a hard time.
In Australia, Charles Leclerc took the final podium spot behind the Silver Arrows, while Lewis Hamilton crossed the line in P5.
The roles were reversed in Shanghai, with Hamilton on the third podium step and Leclerc just behind him. In the Sprint race, however, it was a P2 and P3 finish for Leclerc and Hamilton, respectively.
At the Japanese GP, it was another podium finish for Leclerc, while his team-mate was P6.
The Bahrain and Saudi Arabia Grands Prix were to follow, but due to the cancellation, there was a five-week break in the F1 calendar.
Five-week break offers reset
A five-week gap followed after the cancellation of the Bahrain and Saudi Arabia Grands Prix, giving teams valuable time to regroup.
F1 action resumes on Friday, May 1, with Free Practice 1 and sprint qualifying in Miami. The sprint race and main qualifying will take place on May 2, before Sunday’s Grand Prix on May 3.
With the extended break, teams have had ample opportunity to analyse the opening rounds and prepare upgrades, meaning the competitive order could shift.
Ferrari and McLaren will be aiming to close the gap to Mercedes, although the championship leaders are unlikely to have stood still.
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McLaren target big step forward
McLaren are expected to introduce major upgrades across Miami and Canada, effectively a B-spec car.
A similar move two years ago in Miami helped Norris secure his first Grand Prix victory, raising hopes of another step forward.
"How much it will help us, we don’t know," said Norris, cautiously optimistic.
"I don’t know how far off we were in a race situation last time out in Japan, it was almost a second a lap in the race, so if we’re a second off here it’s still that we’ve taken a step forward.
"I think you have to see that everyone else is probably going to have upgrades and things to improve their car, so we have to understand how much we’ve caught relative to them and if we’re on the right track.
"This will be an upgrade that’s hopefully the start of many more into the future, and obviously some bits for next weekend as well, so let’s just wait and see."
Piastri echoed that view, adding: "Obviously we're expecting a lot of other teams to bring upgrades as well, so hopefully ours are better than theirs - that's the plan.
"But yeah, I think the motivation and the confidence in the team at the moment is high.
"I think we're on a good trajectory again and I think Japan was nice to go into the break with a bit of confidence and showing our potential, and hopefully we've just added to that now. Hopefully it's a good step forward."
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Ferrari seek to close the gap
Ferrari have also been busy, refining their innovative flappy wing and testing new parts during a filming day in Monza. Consistency has been a strength, but outright pace remains a concern.
"I haven't written it off for sure," Leclerc said of his championship hopes.
"It's a very long season and it's a season I think will be dictated by upgrades and this weekend is going to be a very significant one because everyone is going to be bring 90% of the parts will be completely new.
"It's going to be important to start on the right foot. It's also going to be an interesting weekend because it's the first race of the year where it's so warm and track temperatures will be so warm.
"There will be plenty to learn from and I hope we can be on the good side of things but surely, Mercedes have an advantage.
"I don't expect that advantage to close completely this weekend and I still expect them to be the stronger team but if we can be just a little bit closer in order to annoy them a little bit more in the races, then we can push them into mistakes and we can stay there until we get the car to beat them consistently."
His team-mate Hamilton said, "Everyone's had a chance to go over what happened in the first three races.
"Everyone's had more of an intense time to work on refining the car.
"Just feel fired up for the second stab at it."
"I think it's a tall order,” the seven-time world champion added on whether he thinks the gap to the front will be closed without any engine upgrades.
"I think there is a gap between us power-wise, compared to the Merc and also probably the Ford.
"To close that gap, that means we have to do double that development each time of others, which is a really tall order.
"You have to assume everyone's developing at a similar sort of rate because it's new rules, so if a team brings a tenth, we need to bring two. If they bring two, we need to bring three or four.
"That's a lot. I think we do just have to keep pushing to at some stage to be able to close the gap on the engine side."
With upgrades arriving across the grid and conditions set to test both cars and drivers, the Miami Grand Prix could mark a turning point in the early title race.
