FIA Confirms Wide-Ranging Rule Tweaks to Take Effect at Miami Grand Prix
The FIA has confirmed a comprehensive set of 2026 mid-season amendments, unanimously agreed by all stakeholders on April 20, coming into force at the Miami Grand Prix on May 1–3. The headline change raises the super clipping energy recovery limit from 250kW to 350kW in qualifying and races, cutting lift-and-coast manoeuvres. A new low-power start detection system will identify abnormally slow getaways and trigger MGU-K deployment automatically to reduce dangerous bunching. Wet-weather protocols are updated: intermediate tyre blanket temperatures rise, ERS deployment in the wet is reduced, and rear lighting is simplified. FP1 in Miami has been extended to 90 minutes to give teams time to adapt.
Sources: Motorsport.com, The Race, Sky Sports F1
Miami Grand Prix Billed as ‘New Championship’ as All Teams Arrive with Major Upgrades
The Miami Grand Prix on May 1–3 has been described as the start of a new championship by Ferrari team principal Frédéric Vasseur, as all constructors prepare significant car upgrades and software improvements after a five-week development window. The gap was created by the cancellation of the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix. Mercedes, which swept the opening three rounds, faces its first competitive challenge, while Red Bull tested a revised RB22 at Silverstone on April 23 after sitting roughly one second off the leading pace. McLaren and Ferrari also carry major upgrade packages to Florida. Toto Wolff acknowledged Miami will function as a restart for the season.
Sources: Sky Sports F1, Motorsport.com
Championship Leader Antonelli Completes Pirelli Test During April Break Ahead of Miami
Kimi Antonelli enters the Miami Grand Prix leading the 2026 Drivers’ Championship with 72 points — nine ahead of Mercedes team-mate George Russell — after victories in China and Japan. Facing a five-week gap between rounds, the 19-year-old Italian kept sharp with a Pirelli tyre test, a filming day at Silverstone, and intensive physical training. Ahead of Miami, Antonelli said his goal is to be back from where we left off, or even better. He became the youngest driver in history to lead the Formula 1 championship after winning the Japanese Grand Prix on March 29, beating a record set by Lewis Hamilton in 2007.
Sources: Autosport, Motorsport.com
Russell Says Mercedes Early-Season Problems Hit Him Harder Than Title-Leading Antonelli
George Russell has stated that the early-season technical limitations affecting Mercedes are falling disproportionately on him rather than championship-leading team-mate Kimi Antonelli. Nine points behind Antonelli after three rounds, Russell believes setup compromises and software constraints suit his team-mate’s style better than his own. Toto Wolff has signalled both drivers will be treated equally as the intra-team title fight intensifies. Russell won the season-opening Australian Grand Prix but Antonelli took victories in China and Japan to move to 72 points. The Miami Sprint weekend, starting May 1, is Russell’s earliest opportunity to chip away at the nine-point gap.
Sources: Sky Sports F1, GPFans.com
Red Bull Tests Revised RB22 at Silverstone as Team Hunts One-Second Performance Gap
Max Verstappen and Red Bull returned to Silverstone on April 23 to test revised parts on their RB22 ahead of the Miami Grand Prix, with the team sitting ninth in the Drivers’ Championship and roughly one second off the leading pace after three rounds. The updated car features a more angular sidepod design and new front and rear wing configurations. Team principal Laurent Mekies cautioned that Miami will not produce miracles but expressed confidence in forward progress. Red Bull’s Ford-badged power unit has been rated among the stronger engines on the grid, pointing to aerodynamic and chassis efficiency as the root cause of the team’s underperformance.
Sources: GPFans.com, Motorsport.com, Crash.net
Alonso Rules Out Imminent Retirement Despite Aston Martin Scoring Zero Points in 2026
Two-time Formula 1 champion Fernando Alonso signalled his desire to race beyond 2026 at the Monaco Historique this weekend, saying he does not yet feel it is time to retire. The 44-year-old is yet to score a point this season after retirements in Australia and China and an 18th-place finish in Japan, while his Aston Martin contract expires at the end of the year. Alonso described stopping racing as a very hard decision that would be difficult to accept, and said he remains competitive, motivated. Despite Aston Martin’s Honda-powered car struggling, he considers 2026 hopefully not the last season.
Sources: Sky Sports F1, Motorsport.com, GPFans.com
Ex-Red Bull Boss Horner Pictured with Honda CEO at MotoGP, Fuelling Aston Martin Rumours
Former Red Bull team principal Christian Horner was pictured at the MotoGP Spanish Grand Prix in Jerez on April 25 alongside Honda Racing Corporation CEO Koji Watanabe, reigniting speculation over his return to Formula 1. Horner left Red Bull in summer 2025 after more than two decades in charge and has since been linked with Aston Martin — the grid’s only Honda-powered constructor — and Alpine. He described receiving a very warm welcome at the MotoGP paddock but confirmed no formal discussions. Martin Brundle suggested the Aston Martin route remains live, though designer Adrian Newey is believed unlikely to stay at the team if Horner were appointed.
Sources: GPFans.com, Motorsport.com
Miami Grand Prix Returns as Sprint Weekend with 90-Minute FP1 and Formula 2 Debut
Formula 1 returns to the Miami International Autodrome from May 1–3 for the season’s fourth round, a Sprint weekend incorporating the new mid-season regulation package. Free Practice 1 is extended from 60 to 90 minutes — starting 12:00 local time on Friday — giving teams additional time to understand the revised energy management and start systems. Formula 2 will also compete at Miami for the first time at this venue. Miami was originally the sixth round of the season; the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix cancellations moved it forward. The FIA’s single-seater director has said fans should not expect dramatically different racing as a result of the changes.
Drivers' Championship
1. Kimi Antonelli — 72 pts
2. George Russell — 63 pts
3. Charles Leclerc — 49 pts
4. Lewis Hamilton — 41 pts
5. Lando Norris — 25 pts
6. Oscar Piastri — 21 pts
7. Oliver Bearman — 17 pts
8. Pierre Gasly — 15 pts
9. Max Verstappen — 12 pts
10. Liam Lawson — 10 pts
11. Arvid Lindblad — 4 pts
12. Isack Hadjar — 4 pts
13. Gabriel Bortoleto — 2 pts
14. Carlos Sainz — 2 pts
15. Esteban Ocon — 1 pts
16. Franco Colapinto — 1 pts
17. Nico Hülkenberg — 0 pts
18. Alexander Albon — 0 pts
19. Valtteri Bottas — 0 pts
20. Sergio Pérez — 0 pts
21. Fernando Alonso — 0 pts
22. Lance Stroll — 0 pts
Constructors' Championship
1. Mercedes — 135 pts
2. Ferrari — 90 pts
3. McLaren — 46 pts
4. Haas F1 Team — 18 pts
5. Alpine — 16 pts
6. Red Bull Racing — 16 pts
7. Racing Bulls — 14 pts
8. Audi — 2 pts
9. Williams — 2 pts
10. Cadillac — 0 pts
11. Aston Martin — 0 pts