Photo Credit; Getty Images
Italian teenager Kimi Antonelli, the youngest championship leader in F1 history, will seek to complete a hat-trick of early-season victories this weekend as Formula 1 returns after a month's enforced absence due to the Middle East war.
The 19-year-old Mercedes driver, triumphant in China and Japan, leads teammate George Russell, who won the season-opening Australian race, by nine points ahead of what is effectively the start of another season, complete with revised rules and widespread car upgrades, at the Miami Grand Prix.
"After a month without any racing, we are ready to get back on track," said Mercedes team chief Toto Wolff.
"We've used this break to analyse the opening races, address our weaknesses and raise our level.
"We've started the season well, but that counts for very little if you stand still. We know our competitors will have used this time to improve and build a deeper understanding of their cars so we expect the field to be closer in Miami.
"That's the reality of F1 – it's a challenge we must rise to." Antonelli's early triumphs made him the first Italian driver since Alberto Ascari in 1953 to win two consecutive races. Ascari completed his treble that season.
Wolff also addressed the tweaks to the regulations to be introduced in Miami, aimed at making the cars and the spectacle more natural with reduced battery re-charging in qualifying and increased super-clipping power to reduce dangerous speed differentials.
He said the revised rules would "respect the DNA of our sport" and deliver an improved spectacle without any significant reduction to Mercedes' early-season performance advantage.
For Mercedes, this Sunday's race is an opportunity for a first win in Florida since the event was launched five years ago. It has been won twice by four-time champion Max Verstappen for Red Bull and twice by McLaren with a win apiece for world champion Lando Norris and teammate Oscar Piastri.
