Fórmula 1 returns to Estados Unidos this weekend after four weekends without racing, and the paddock arrives at Miami with an extraordinary amount of new features. Teams took advantage of the break in the calendar to develop significant improvement packages, while changed regulations promise to transform the dynamics of qualifying and racing in the fourth stage of the 2026 season.
The cancellation of the two stages scheduled for April — Bahrein and Arábia Saudita — gave the teams more valuable time to develop and manufacture new parts. McLaren boss Andrea Stella even described his team’s efforts as representing a completely new car, especially from an aerodynamic point of view. Ele does not believe that McLaren will be the only one with major updates this weekend.
Transformação unprecedented technique
The new regulations have opened up several avenues for teams to explore, allowing for bigger gains at the start of the season. With three stages already contested in Austrália, China and Japão, the data collected was fundamental for collaborative discussions between teams, drivers, FIA and power unit manufacturers. The main focuses of the changes were:
- Permitir drivers to maximize performance in qualifying
- Reduzir probability of excessive speeds in the final laps during the race
- Mantém regulatory settings subject to modification according to on-track data
- Simulações carried out with information from the first three events already held
- Miami will be the first real test of the changes in race conditions
“In our intention, there was always the idea of delivering a completely new car for racing in América from Norte,” said Stella. “The fact that the calendar was changed helped a little, as it certainly helped all the other teams, who were able to work more efficiently on updating the car, rather than being busy racing.”
Antonelli chases 2025 memorable performance
Kimi Antonelli joins Miami as the current championship leader — a remarkable situation for someone in only his second season in F1. Após faced difficulties during the European run last year, the Italian rider’s performance in Miami stands out as particularly strong. On the previous occasion, he set the fastest time in the Sprint classification and obtained third place in the overall qualification, being just 0.067 seconds away from pole position. Chegando with a nine-point lead over George Russell after two consecutive victories starting from pole position, Antonelli will look to repeat the success of his comeback.
Miami’s circuit became fertile ground for Antonelli’s performance. Suas’s strong qualifications and ability to get the most out of Mercedes in favorable conditions place him as one of the favorites for new pole positions this weekend. The question that permeates the paddock is simple: will the championship leader be able to maintain this streak against teams with updated packages?
Oportunidades at home to two American teams
Miami quickly became a major stop on the calendar, with teams showing off special designs and holding additional activations. Este year, two teams will have the advantage of competing in the first of three races at home. Haas returns looking to extend its record of just three points in the last four editions — two of them achieved in an Sprint race. With a good start to the year that places the team in fourth place in Campeonato and Equipes, the goal will certainly be to add more points.
Cadillac, however, will experience an even more special moment. The weekend marks their home debut in Fórmula 1. The team looks forward to bringing their first update package to Miami, as well as counting on the support of the American fans as they continue their debut season in the sport. Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas will certainly have huge support throughout the weekend, as will the team’s third driver.
Recent Histórico and Weekend Highlights
Miami not only welcomes Fórmula 1, but also marks the debut of Fórmula 2 on the American continent. Cadillac’s third driver, Colton Herta — who made the transition from IndyCar — will have the unexpected opportunity to race in F2 in the Estados Unidos. With the cancellation of the Bahrein and Arábia Saudita rounds, the next two F1 weekends at América and Norte will host the access category, giving fans the opportunity to see the next generation competing twice per weekend. Tanto Miami and Montreal are Sprint weekends, providing two opportunities to score points on the weekend.
Considerando the interval between races and regulatory changes since Japão, the FIA has chosen to extend Friday’s only free practice session from one hour to 90 minutes. The measure aims to give teams more time to adapt to the new conditions and updates coming to the circuit. It’s sure to be a weekend packed with technical and sporting action as the paddock prepares for the real tests of regulatory changes in racing conditions.