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Formula 1 returns in Miami with new rules, fresh upgrades and a championship fight beginning to take shape.

Formula 1 returns this weekend at the Miami Grand Prix after a five week break, with a fresh set of technical tweaks and a paddock eager to see whether they make a meaningful difference on track.

The 2026 season has paused since late March after the cancellation of the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix, leaving teams with extra time to regroup, refine their cars and absorb a wave of rule changes aimed at improving drivability and safety. Miami, the fourth round of the championship, now feels like a reset button, or perhaps a second opening chapter.

Much of the attention is on revised power-unit regulations. The changes are designed to reduce so called lift-and-coast driving in qualifying, limit heavy battery charging at full throttle, and make cars feel more natural at the limit. Drivers should notice the difference more than viewers, but it is expected to produce cleaner racing and fewer awkward speed swings down the straights.

Mercedes arrive with momentum. Teenager Kimi Antonelli leads the drivers' standings ahead of team-mate George Russell after three rounds, underlining the team's strong start under the new era. Rival teams, including McLaren, are bringing significant upgrades to Miami, making this weekend a key test of whether Mercedes can keep control of the championship fight.

Away from the cars, the Miami weekend remains one of Formula 1's biggest spectacles. Yet beneath the music, glamour and celebrity buzz, the serious business resumes now. After a month of talk, Formula 1 gets back to racing, and finally starts answering questions on the track.