After an unplanned spring break that put the start of the season on hold, Formula 1 returns to Miami with more questions than answers. Three races in a row, the pecking order remains uneven, the championship battle has taken an unexpected turn, and the direction of the sport itself is under scrutiny.
FROM a new popular title for an uncertain future for one of its biggest stars, here are five big questions as the season resumes.
IS IT AN ANTONELLI ADVANTAGE?
Surprise, surprise — we have a title fight. Among the big stories from the first three races was the unexpected development of young Kimi Antonelli from an explosive but erratic talent to the leader of the drivers’ championship. Critics may argue that this is due to what has plagued George Russell in the last two races – but there’s no denying that the Italian prodigy has now established himself as the number two driver, ready to catch any mistake from the other side of the garage.
As Antonelli heads to the same track where he took his first sprint pole position a year ago The 19-year-old has the advantage for perhaps the first time in his short F1 career. For Russell, the task is urgent – reclaim the team’s number one position and lead the championship, or risk serious questions about his long-term position at Mercedes. Max Verstappen with teammate Isack Hadjar at the Miami GP despite questions over his retirement (Photo Reuters)
CAN RED BULL CONVINCE VERSTAPPEN TO STAY?
Among the names that could shape the future of Mercedes – should he decide to stay in Formula 1 – is Max Verstappen. The Dutchman finds himself in the team more and more without the characters that made Verstappen feel at home. Christian Horner, Adrian Newey and Jonathan Wheatley have all left and even long-time race engineer Gianpiero ‘GP’ Lambiase is set to continue in the coming years.
Ultimately, however, Verstappen cares about one thing: winning. If the new-look Red Bull can somehow turn their fortunes around, they still have a real chance of keeping their talismanic driver. As the team heads into the first home race of its new partner Ford, hopes of another mid-season revival remain alive. But should that fail, Red Bull’s biggest concern would not be losing Verstappen outright, but losing him to one of his rivals.
NOW OR NEVER FOR NORRIS?
Amidst the hubbub surrounding a dominant Mercedes, a resurgent Ferrari and a restless Verstappen, the reigning world champion quietly fell silent. Lando Norris’ title defense has been muted so far — and Suzuka has only added to the worries. While McLaren finally showed signs of resolving their early reliability issues, Norris was comprehensively outclassed by team-mate Oscar Piastri, who secured a strong second place, while the Brit finished a distant fifth.
Heading into Miami – the scene of his first victory – Norris has an opportunity to renew his campaign and reassert himself in the title race. With McLaren now looking capable of consistently challenging at the front, the question is no longer about the car, but whether Norris can rediscover his advantage.
HAS THE ORDER OF KNUBLING CHANGED?
This column, which came out of Suzuka, pointed out that the unscheduled five-week spring break – prompted by the cancellation of the Bahrain-Saudi Grand Prix amid the conflict in West Asia – could prove invaluable for teams who have started the season on the back foot. Unlike the summer shutdown, there were no restrictions on development, allowing the teams to fully analyze the data from the opening races and respond accordingly.
Miami will offer the first real indication of who won this development race. As history has shown, early-season form can be deceiving – McLaren themselves have gone from mid-level contenders to title contenders in a single regulation cycle. The question now is whether teams like Williams, Alpine and Aston Martin can make a similar move, or whether the early hierarchy is already starting to solidify.
RULES RESET OR COMPLETE RESTART?
The aftermath of Oliver Bearman’s crash at Suzuka has forced Formula 1 to face uncomfortable questions about its new regulations. The FIA has responded with a number of targeted improvements – particularly in the area of energy management – aimed at reducing the need for aggressive harvesting at awkward moments.
These changes take effect from Miami and add another layer of uncertainty to an already unpredictable period. As teams continue to adjust to the complexity of the new rules – and the sprint weekend shortens preparation time – the potential for disruption remains high. In that sense, Miami may offer not just another race, but another recalibration.
– The end
Published on:
May 1, 2026 12:51 PM IST
