Formula 1 3 Days

Last updated: May 4, 2026, 8:30 AM ET

Formula 1: Miami Grand Prix Review & Rule Changes

The return of Formula 1 action in Miami followed a five-week hiatus, bringing with it the premiere of several rule tweaks intended to enhance safety and race dynamics, changes drivers like Lando Norris expect will still result in penalties for aggressive driving efforts after the adjustments. The on-track action proved chaotic, culminating in a victory for Kimi Antonelli, who clinched his third consecutive win in the 2026 running of the event, overcoming a late-race duel with reigning champion Lando Norris to take the checkers. Amid the racing drama, FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem made a sweeping declaration regarding future power units, stating his certainty that the V8 engines, absent since 2014, will return to the sport by 2031 at the absolute latest signaling a major shift.

The Miami weekend saw significant penalty action and technical scrutiny following the application of the new regulations. Max Verstappen was handed a five-second penalty for breaching the pitlane exit line during the Grand Prix, though he managed to retain his fifth position due to Charles Leclerc incurring an even larger penalty ahead of him securing his finishing spot. Elsewhere in the disciplinary realm, Red Bull’s Isack Hadjar was officially disqualified from qualifying after his RB22 failed to meet the technical specifications laid out by the Formula 1 scrutineers attracting immediate sanctions. Furthermore, Liam Lawson avoided punishment for an incident involving Pierre Gasly on lap five because the Racing Bulls driver experienced a critical gearbox failure mere moments before the contact occurred avoiding further sanctions.

Technical developments were central to the Miami event, with ten of the eleven teams bringing upgraded components to the Autodrome. Red Bull arrived with a substantial upgrade package, including a revised wing referred to as the ‘Macarena’ wing, which Max Verstappen assessed as having "almost halved" the performance gap to the frontrunners, despite identifying remaining weaknesses in the RB22 chassis revealing performance gains. Verstappen himself had an improved qualifying session compared to recent races, reaching Q3 after failing to advance past Q2 in Japan, a recovery he attributed to a hidden factor within Red Bull’s structure aiding his performance. The high-profile nature of the US race was further emphasized by commercial announcements, including the Miami Grand Prix unveiling plans for a major Paddock Club expansion overlooking Turns, 2, and, set to debut in 2027 boosting hospitality.

The ongoing commercial expansion of Formula 1 in the United States remains a key focus for leadership. F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali asserted at the Autosport Business Exchange Miami that the series is only beginning to tap into its commercial ceiling within the US market, suggesting further growth beyond the current calendar footprint confirming US focus. Meanwhile, McLaren leadership dealt with the fallout from a non-F1 commitment, as CEO Zak Brown admitted that the failure to qualify two-time champion Fernando Alonso for the Indianapolis 500 was the "worst experience" of his professional tenure reflecting on Indy failure. Speculation surrounding Alonso’s F1 status also intensified, as the 44-year-old driver confirmed he expects to make a final decision on his racing future around the sport's summer break delaying retirement talk.

Away from the track action, the management of technical specifications for future seasons continues. Discussions surrounding the 2027 power unit rules are expected to conclude within the next fortnight, with proposals circulating that call for a 60/40 power split favoring the internal combustion engine over the electrical components finalizing regulations. While the Miami event itself was generally dry, speculation about adverse weather was present, as the paddock often defaults to pessimism based on Sunday forecasts, though organizers confirmed the sprint format would be a key feature of the 2026 spectacle shaping the weekend.