Season resumes in Florida after five-week break
Ferrari and McLaren aim to close gap on Mercedes
With Formula One returning after its early season enforced break, the Miami Grand Prix is proving an enticing prospect given most of the teams used the time to work furiously on upgrades to their cars. Many of which are being deployed here. Intriguing enough were it not also for the updated regulations being given their debut outing and the threat of lightning storms on Sunday potentially causing a schedule change.
Five weeks have passed since the last round in Japan on 29 March after the Saudi Arabian and Bahrain GPs were cancelled because of the war in the Middle East, a break welcomed by many as an unexpected opportunity to assess their cars, which are still very much a work in progress after the rule changes this season.
Mercedes held the whip hand in the opening races, and are still unbeaten with Kimi Antonelli leading his teammate George Russell at the top of the world championship by nine points. Their car has looked dominant thus far but only really able to exploit its advantage when in clean air at the front of the field. When in a dogfight with leaders of the chasing pack, Ferrari and McLaren, it is a far closer affair.
