Lewis Hamilton is well positioned to secure race victories for Ferrari as Formula 1 returns to action with the Miami Grand Prix following a five-week break.

The seven-time world champion currently sits fourth in the drivers’ standings after claiming his first podium for the Scuderia at the Chinese Grand Prix.

Mercedes have dominated the opening exchanges of the 2026 campaign, with Kimi Antonelli and George Russell winning all three races so far.

Ferrari target Mercedes gap

Former driver and commentator Martin Brundle believes the impending race in Florida will act as a relaunch for the chasing pack.

Teams have spent the enforced April break developing major upgrades for their radically altered 2026 machines.

The Italian marque are expected to deliver a significant performance step in the United States to challenge the early championship pacesetters.

Hamilton trails his team-mate Charles Leclerc by just eight points, with the pair already engaging in fierce on-track battles during the Asian leg of the calendar.

Hamilton relishing rule changes

The British driver struggled at the recent Japanese Grand Prix but appears visibly reinvigorated following his winter departure from Mercedes.

“Lewis clearly enjoys these cars much more.”

Brundle noted that the previous ground-effect era vehicles did not suit the driving style of the 103-time race winner.

“Just his mood and just the way he’s going about it, he just seems a lot happier because Ferrari is more competitive.”

Sprint format returns in Miami

To mount a serious title challenge, the former McLaren star must first establish supremacy over Leclerc within his own garage.

Both Ferrari drivers are seeking their first race wins since the 2024 season.

“If there’s a sniff of a victory, I think Lewis is still very much capable of taking that.”

The upcoming weekend features the second sprint event of the year, offering crucial additional championship points.

McLaren have claimed victory at the venue in the past two seasons, adding another variable to the competitive order.

The 2026 Formula 1 season resumes at the Miami Grand Prix this weekend following a five-week hiatus, with rival teams bringing major upgrades in a bid to catch runaway leaders Mercedes.

The sport returns to the track at the Miami International Autodrome for the first time since the Japanese Grand Prix on 29 March.

Scheduled races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia were cancelled on safety grounds due to conflict in the Middle East, creating an unexpected gap in the calendar.

Teams have utilised this enforced factory time to develop significant car upgrades, leading to suggestions that the competitive pecking order could dramatically shift.

‘A new championship begins’

The Silver Arrows have dominated the new 2026 regulations so far, winning all three opening races and the single Sprint event.

Kimi Antonelli currently leads the drivers’ standings following his impressive victory at Suzuka.

Ferrari have emerged as the closest challengers and hope their latest developments will bridge the performance gap in Florida.

Frederic Vasseur believes the extended break has allowed teams to heavily optimise their machinery.

“Everyone will bring new upgrades to Miami,” Vasseur said.

The Scuderia team principal expects the grid to look vastly different as engineers unlock more performance.

“They’ll have time to work on the software, which is why I said a new championship will start.”

Mercedes anticipate fresh challenge

Despite their flawless start to the campaign, the German marque is acutely aware of the threat posed by the rest of the pack.

Toto Wolff echoed his Ferrari counterpart’s sentiments regarding the potential for an immediate shake-up.

“Miami is going to be for me also a restart,” Wolff admitted.

The Mercedes motorsport boss acknowledged that competitors are rapidly learning how to extract the maximum from the complex new technical regulations.

“How are the upgrades going to work that people are bringing? How have we optimised all the other systems?”

The Austrian executive concluded that the renewed development war will make for a thrilling weekend on track.

“It’s going to be exciting.”

Carson Hocevar claimed the first victory of his NASCAR Cup Series career by overtaking Chris Buescher with a dramatic last-lap pass at Talladega Superspeedway on Sunday.

The 23-year-old utilised a well-timed drafting push from Alex Bowman to edge past Buescher’s Ford by a mere 0.114 seconds at the finish line.

It marks a milestone achievement in the Michigan native’s 91st start in stock car racing’s premier division.

He becomes the second first-time winner of the current season, joining Ty Gibbs who triumphed at Bristol Motor Speedway two weeks prior.

Massive pile-up halts aggressive racing

While the closing stages provided spectacular competition, the 2.66-mile oval once again delivered its trademark multi-car chaos.

A massive 26-car wreck was triggered on lap 115 when Bubba Wallace lost control of his Toyota after receiving a bump from Ross Chastain.

The devastating incident eliminated several high-profile contenders, including Ryan Blaney, Joey Logano, Brad Keselowski, and Kyle Larson.

Wallace, who was making his milestone 300th Cup start, ultimately finished outside the top 30 for the third time in five races.

“It’s a bummer, but we’ve got to figure out how to be pushed better, so I take responsibility on that,” said Wallace.

Strategy shifts and safety concerns

NASCAR officials had instituted a mammoth 98-lap first stage in an attempt to combat the extreme fuel conservation strategies often deployed at superspeedways.

This structural change forced drivers to run cautiously below their maximum speeds for an 85-minute opening segment to ensure optimum mileage.

However, when the field finally opened the throttle for the second stage, the destructive pile-up erupted just 10 laps later.

“What do you want? Save fuel or crash? Pick one. That’s what it feels like right now,” stated an aggrieved Logano following his elimination.
“The cars are unstable, and once everyone starts pushing and racing aggressive, it’s going to happen.”

Behind the headline-grabbing finish, Bowman secured an impressive third place.

The result marked Bowman’s best finish since missing four races earlier this year with vertigo.

Chase Elliott and Zane Smith completed the top five on an unpredictable and bruising afternoon in Alabama.

Elsewhere on the grid, current points leader Tyler Reddick announced a multi-year contract extension with 23XI Racing prior to the event.

Two-time world champion Fernando Alonso has revealed he wants to extend his Formula 1 career beyond the 2026 season, stating at the Monaco historic grand prix that he is not yet ready to retire.

The 44-year-old is out of contract at the end of the current campaign but explicitly stated that he hopes 2026 will not be his final year on the grid.

Previously, the Spaniard suggested he would evaluate his future as the year progressed and anticipated treating 2026 as his definitive farewell tour.

However, speaking to the event’s official television channel, the veteran driver emphasised his enduring passion for elite motorsport.

I love what I do, I love racing. I did my first race when I was three years old, and I am 44, so 41 years of my life I have been behind a steering wheel. The moment I have to stop racing, it will be a very hard decision and difficult to accept. Fernando Alonso

The former Ferrari and Renault star added that he still feels highly competitive, motivated, and genuinely happy whenever he takes to the track.

Aston Martin struggles hinder farewell plans

The veteran’s optimistic outlook comes despite a highly challenging start to the year for his current team.

Aston Martin entered the campaign with massive expectations following their transition to a works engine partnership with Japanese manufacturer Honda.

Optimism was further fuelled by the high-profile acquisition of legendary car designer Adrian Newey, who joined the Silverstone-based outfit in March of the previous year.

Instead, the team has suffered a dismal opening phase, battling severe performance deficits and crippling reliability issues.

Chassis and engine woes plague new partnership

Initial public scrutiny fell heavily on Honda after severe engine vibrations caused mechanical failures and extreme physical discomfort for both drivers.

However, subsequent analysis across the first three races revealed that over half of the team’s overall performance deficit actually originates from the chassis.

Newey clarified that his delayed arrival and significant wind tunnel complications heavily disrupted the design process, leaving the team four months behind rival constructors in crucial research and development.

Despite the substantial setback, the esteemed engineer remains confident that Aston Martin can successfully bridge the chassis performance gap as the season progresses.

Honda granted developmental lifeline

Meanwhile, the broader Formula 1 paddock widely acknowledges that Honda currently possesses the weakest power unit among all engine manufacturers.

As a result, the Japanese marque is expected to receive permission for extra development and upgrade opportunities to address their severe operational deficiencies.

This regulatory mechanism is built into the new 2026 power-unit guidelines, specifically designed to offer trailing manufacturers a realistic chance to close the competitive gap.

With Aston Martin possessing limited options to secure a top-tier replacement driver, an eventual upturn in form could easily convince the legendary Spanish driver to orchestrate a final swansong in 2027.

Alex Marquez claimed a comfortable victory at the Spanish Grand Prix on Sunday to halt overall leader Marco Bezzecchi’s five-race winning streak in MotoGP.

The Ducati-Gresini rider triumphed from fifth on the starting grid, crossing the line 1.903 seconds ahead of his Aprilia rival.

It marks a triumphant return to the top step of the podium for the recently turned 30-year-old, who secured his maiden premier class victory at this exact Jerez circuit last year.

Marc Marquez crashes out after sprint success

Sunday’s grand prix provided a stark contrast to Saturday’s chaotic, rain-lashed sprint event.

Reigning champion Marc Marquez had clinched victory in those treacherous wet conditions following some quick thinking to change bikes.

Despite starting from pole position in the main race, the older Marquez brother could not replicate his sprint success.

Alex closed the gap rapidly at the start of the second lap, executing a clinical move up the inside at turn six to snatch the lead.

Disaster struck for Marc just five turns later as he lost the front end of his Ducati and crashed out of contention.

Bezzecchi extends championship advantage

With clear track ahead, the younger Marquez brother proved untouchable for the chasing pack.

Fabio di Giannantonio delivered a strong performance to complete the podium places, while Jorge Martin crossed the line in fourth.

The result finally breaks a formidable run of form from the current championship leader.

The Italian had dominated the premier class by winning the final two rounds of last season and the opening three races of the current campaign.

Despite missing out on the victory, the second-place finish allows him to stretch his overall standings advantage to 11 points over Martin.

Di Giannantonio climbs to third in the title race, leaving the reigning champion languishing 44 points adrift in fifth.

A turning point for the Gresini rider

This crucial win propels the victorious Spaniard up to seventh in the overall classification.

His previous best result this season had been a modest sixth-place finish.

“We struggled a lot at the beginning of the year,” the race winner said.

“Today, it was clear – go from the first lap, pushing, trying to take the lead.”

“From that moment, I knew that the rhythm was really good until the end.”

Welsh driver Elfyn Evans has reclaimed the World Rally Championship lead after finishing second behind Sebastien Ogier at Rally Islas Canarias.

The 37-year-old now holds a narrow two-point advantage over Toyota team-mate Takamoto Katsuta following the fifth round of the 14-race season.

He secured his position at the summit by collecting a maximum 10 Sunday bonus points alongside the 17 awarded for his runner-up finish.

Toyota dominate Spanish stages

Eight-time world champion Ogier secured his first victory of the campaign, crossing the line 19.9 seconds ahead of the new championship leader.

Toyota Gazoo Racing completely controlled the asphalt event, locking out the top four positions on the final leaderboard.

Finnish prospect Sami Pajari claimed the final spot on the podium, while Katsuta and his Irish co-driver Aaron Johnston finished fourth.

“It has been a solid weekend,” said Evans.

“It was a poor start and that put us out of the fight for the win.

“I have had mixed feelings, but congrats to Seb, he has driven an exceptional weekend.”

Solberg suffers late heartbreak

The Japanese manufacturer had been on course to claim an unprecedented top-five sweep before disaster struck for Oliver Solberg.

The Rally Monte Carlo winner crashed out on the penultimate stage after dominating earlier sessions with six stage victories.

Trailing the leading Frenchman by just two seconds, the 22-year-old was forced to retire his heavily damaged Yaris and left the Spanish island without scoring.

Armstrong faces steep learning curve

Elsewhere, Josh McErlean delivered a respectable eighth-place finish for M-Sport Ford.

His Motorsport Ireland team-mate Jon Armstrong endured a far more bruising encounter to finish 11th in his debut top-flight season.

The Fermanagh native lost more than two minutes on Saturday when spectators were forced to push his stranded car back onto the road.

“It has been quite a challenging weekend, there is no doubt about that,” said the 31-year-old rookie.

“It has taken a long time to get on top of a tyre on this rally.”

“It has not been a great rally, but sometimes you will have worse ones than good ones.”

Looking ahead to Portugal

The teams now have a brief respite before the championship shifts to gravel for round six in Portugal from 7 May.

The top of the provisional drivers’ standings remains incredibly tight as the current season approaches its midway point.

Rally Islas Canarias Top 5

WRC Championship Standings

Former Formula 1 driver Jos Verstappen has escaped without injury after his car flipped and collided with a tree during a severe crash at the Rally of Wallonia on Sunday.

The Dutchman, father of reigning world champion Max Verstappen, was competing alongside co-driver Jesper Vermeulen when their vehicle slid off the circuit.

Images from the accident scene showed their Skoda Fabia RS Rally2 overturned in foliage with severe structural damage and a torn-off wheel.

Despite the heavy impact, the rally veteran confirmed to GPblog that he was entirely unharmed following the terrifying incident.

“All good.”

Impressive fightback cut short

The duo were forced to withdraw from the tarmac event following the high-speed collision.

It concluded a dramatic weekend for the driver, whose vehicle was already carrying damage from an earlier incident during the fourth stage.

He had managed an impressive recovery drive on Saturday to reach third place behind leaders Adrian Fernemont and Maxime Potty before disaster struck.

The Wallonia route is renowned for its technical challenges, combining exceptionally tight, winding roads with remarkably quick sections.

Late co-driver change

The former grand prix racer was competing without his usual navigator for this year’s edition of the demanding event.

Regular co-driver Renaud Jamoul was unavailable to participate as he continues his recovery following surgery on an ankle problem.

Fortunately, neither the stand-in Vermeulen nor the driver sustained any serious injuries when their campaign came to an abrupt end.

Meanwhile, his son Max continues to navigate a turbulent period in his own Formula 1 career amid speculation regarding his long-term future in the sport.

The Red Bull superstar recently questioned the expanding calendar and sweeping regulation changes, admitting that enjoyment has occasionally been stripped out of racing.

“You also wait for 24 races. And then you just think about is it worth it? Or do I enjoy being more at home with my family? Seeing my friends more when you’re not enjoying your sport?”

NASCAR majority owner Jim France is stepping down from his role as chief executive, with president Steve O’Donnell set to become the first non-family member to lead the racing series.

France, who has held the top position since 2019, will retain his majority ownership stake and remain as chairman of the organisation.

The historic leadership change is expected to be officially announced at Talladega Superspeedway in Alabama on Saturday.

O’Donnell’s appointment marks a monumental shift for a motorsport property that was founded by Bill France Sr in 1948 and has always been guided by a family member.

Management restructuring continues

Alongside the change at the very top, France’s great-nephew Ben Kennedy will be promoted to the position of chief operating officer.

The outgoing executive originally took control of the boardroom following the sudden resignation of his nephew, Brian France, five years ago.

Legal battles and recent controversy

This major transition follows a tumultuous period for the American stock car racing series, highlighted by a bruising anti-trust lawsuit.

The racing magnate adopted a hardline stance during negotiations for the 2025 revenue-sharing agreement, which triggered legal action from Michael Jordan’s 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports.

A settlement was eventually reached in December, granting competing teams the permanent charter agreements they had been demanding.

Testimony struggles and Phelps exit

During the recent anti-trust trial, the softly spoken chairman faced difficulties during his first day of testimony, repeatedly needing questions clarified and struggling to recall specific topics before recovering on the second day.

The courtroom drama also led to the high-profile departure of NASCAR commissioner Steve Phelps earlier this year.

Phelps was forced to resign after inflammatory text messages sent during the contentious revenue-sharing negotiations were made public during the legal proceedings.