Wolff predicts "closer" F1 battles in Miami GP after regulatory "evolution"

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff believes the Formula 1 field will "be closer" as the championship returns to action at the Miami Grand Prix.

F1 returns from a five-week break, following cancellations of events in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. Mercedes has so far been victorious in all three grands prix this year, with George Russell taking the win in Australia and Kimi Antonelli following this up in China and Japan. 

But significant time away from the track has given teams a chance to refine their 2026 machinery, with Ferrari boss Fred Vasseur stating he expects Miami to be the 'start of a new championship', with some potentially big performance swings across the grid. 

"After a month without racing, we are ready to get back on track," said Wolff. 

"We’ve used this break to analyse the opening races honestly, address our weaknesses and continue to raise our level. 

"We’ve started the season well, but that counts for very little if you stand still. We also know that our competitors will have used this time effectively to improve their packages 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 not only welcome but must rise to."

The break was also used to introduce a number of tweaks to the regulations, in order to improve the qualifying spectacle, reduce 'superclipping', and address safety concerns in both the wet and at the start of races.

With rain forecast for Sunday, some of these changes could be seen in practice in the near future. However, with energy harvesting less of an issue in Miami, the wider effect of these tweaks may not be evident until the Canadian Grand Prix, where back-to-back long straights will push deployment to its limit. 

"As a sport, we have also used this time to engage in constructive and open dialogue with all stakeholders," added Wolff. 

"The regulatory tweaks are an evolution rather than a revolution, designed to build on the quality of racing we’ve seen so far while allowing the drivers to push to the limit. These changes respect the DNA of our sport and I’m confident they will contribute to an even stronger spectacle going forward."