Ferrari Concerned as Miami Upgrade Package Fails to Deliver
Ferrari arrived in Miami with 11 upgrades for their SF-26, but the package failed to deliver the expected performance boost, prompting concern within the Scuderia. Lewis Hamilton finished seventh in the sprint and was further compromised in Sunday's race by a lap-one collision with Franco Colapinto at Turn 11. Sky Sports F1 analyst Karun Chandhok said rivals told him they were not worried by the upgrades, while David Croft called the sixth-and-eighth combined result a massive disappointment. Hamilton holds 51 points and sits fifth in the championship, 49 points behind leader Kimi Antonelli, with McLaren and Mercedes upgrades incoming for the Canadian Grand Prix.
Sources: GPFans
Rosberg Predicts 'Inevitable' Antonelli-Russell Intra-Team Clash
2016 world champion Nico Rosberg told Italian outlet Gazzetta on May 12 that a collision between Mercedes teammates Kimi Antonelli and George Russell is unavoidable as the title battle intensifies. Antonelli, 19, leads the championship with 100 points after three consecutive grand prix victories, holding a 20-point advantage over Russell. Rosberg, who experienced years of intra-team conflict alongside Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes, said such clashes become inevitable when a title is at stake. Russell struggled in Miami, qualifying fifth and finishing fourth, while Antonelli converted pole position into race victory for the third consecutive time, extending his championship lead.
Sources: GPFans
Aston Martin Team Principal Announcement to Replace Newey 'Coming Soon'
An announcement replacing Adrian Newey as Aston Martin team principal is coming soon, according to podcast host Jolie Sharpe, who reported from the Miami Grand Prix paddock on May 11. Newey stepped into the team principal role in November 2025 after Andy Cowell moved to chief strategy officer, but the dual workload of managing technical partner and team principal has drawn criticism amid the team's dismal 2026 season. Former Red Bull pit wall chief Jonathan Wheatley — who left Audi in March citing personal reasons — is widely expected to take the role. Sharpe suggested the announcement could arrive before race 14, with the team targeting a return to Q2.
Sources: GPFans
Aston Martin Morale at Rock Bottom After Zero-Point Start to 2026
Sky Sports F1 pundit Karun Chandhok reported on May 11 that morale within Aston Martin has collapsed following a disastrous 2026 campaign, saying anyone he spoke to in green looked depressed and deflated. The team sits last in the constructors' championship with zero points after four rounds and arrived at Miami with no chassis upgrades for their Adrian Newey-designed AMR26 — the first race in which both Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll managed to complete the full grand prix distance after persistent Honda power unit vibration problems. Stroll finished five seconds behind Cadillac's Sergio Perez. Honda had the car at Sakura between rounds for testing.
Sources: GPFans
Fred Vesti Completed Close to 1,000 Simulator Laps Before Miami Win
Mercedes revealed on May 11 that third driver Fred Vesti, 24, completed close to 1,000 simulator laps at their Brackley factory ahead of the Miami Grand Prix, contributing to Kimi Antonelli's race win. Antonelli, who now leads the drivers' championship with 100 points, took his third consecutive grand prix victory in Miami and stretched his advantage over teammate George Russell to 20 points. Vesti disclosed the figure on the Mercedes Nu Silver Arrows Radio Show, adding he flew directly back to the simulator after the Miami race to begin preparation for the Canadian Grand Prix, where Russell holds a strong historical record.
Sources: GPFans
Audi Urged to Make Urgent Changes After Disqualifications and Fires in Miami
Audi's 2026 season reached a new low at the Miami Grand Prix, where Gabriel Bortoleto was disqualified from the sprint for an engine intake air pressure violation before suffering a car fire in qualifying, while Nico Hülkenberg's car also caught fire before the sprint and he retired from Sunday's race. Sky Sports F1 commentator David Croft said on May 11 the outcome was a little bit embarrassing for the German manufacturer, noting three out of five race weekends featured a failure to start before the main event. New racing director Allan McNish was overseeing his first race weekend in the role at Miami.
Sources: GPFans
Zhou Guanyu to Drive Cadillac MAC-26 at Post-Barcelona Pirelli Tyre Test
Zhou Guanyu will drive Cadillac's MAC-26 at the Pirelli tyre test scheduled immediately after the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix in June, team principal Graeme Lowdon confirmed on May 11. Zhou, serving as reserve driver alongside Valtteri Bottas after spending 2025 as Ferrari's reserve driver, has completed extensive simulator work on the new car ahead of the test. Lowdon expressed confidence in Zhou's ability to perform, citing their long-standing working relationship that dates back to Zhou's early career. The Barcelona race is no longer called the Spanish Grand Prix, following Madrid's addition to the calendar — Barcelona now hosts the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix.
Sources: GPFans
Hamilton Donates Roscoe's Personalised Mini G-Wagon to Silverstone Museum
Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton has donated the custom mini Mercedes G-Wagon that once carried his late bulldog Roscoe around the Formula 1 paddock to the Silverstone Museum in Northamptonshire. The vehicle — complete with working lights, leather seats, a USB stereo, and a personalised plate reading R05 COE — went on display on May 11. Roscoe died in September 2025 at age 12, after being put to sleep following a recurrence of pneumonia. Silverstone Museum head of learning Robert Jaina called it one of the most special cars he had ever spoken about. Annual museum entry is priced between £15 and £29.
Sources: GPFans
Drivers' Championship
1. Kimi Antonelli — 100 pts
2. George Russell — 80 pts
3. Charles Leclerc — 59 pts
4. Lando Norris — 51 pts
5. Lewis Hamilton — 51 pts
6. Oscar Piastri — 43 pts
7. Max Verstappen — 26 pts
8. Oliver Bearman — 17 pts
9. Pierre Gasly — 16 pts
10. Liam Lawson — 10 pts
11. Franco Colapinto — 7 pts
12. Arvid Lindblad — 4 pts
13. Isack Hadjar — 4 pts
14. Carlos Sainz — 4 pts
15. Gabriel Bortoleto — 2 pts
16. Esteban Ocon — 1 pts
17. Alexander Albon — 1 pts
18. Nico Hülkenberg — 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 — 180 pts
2. Ferrari — 110 pts
3. McLaren — 94 pts
4. Red Bull Racing — 30 pts
5. Alpine — 23 pts
6. Haas F1 Team — 18 pts
7. Racing Bulls — 14 pts
8. Williams — 5 pts
9. Audi — 2 pts
10. Cadillac — 0 pts
11. Aston Martin — 0 pts