Mercedes driven to stay in front on Miami circuit

The Formula 1 season resumes after an unexpected five-week gap this weekend in Miami.

The extended break was an opportunity for teams to tinker with their cars. Mercedes delivered on their pre-season promise by winning all three races so far this season to take control of both the Drivers’ and Teams’ Championships, so entered the break brimming with confidence.

On the driver front, they have an absorbing battle developing between George Russell and Kimi Antonelli at the top of the Drivers’ Championship.

Six-time racer winner Russell, 28, now in his fifth season with the team, looked supremely confident through pre-season testing and utterly dominated the Australian Grand Prix weekend. But he suffered niggles in the next two rounds to blunt his charge.

And teenager Antonelli, in his sophomore season, took full advantage. First, he secured his first Grand Prix win in China and then won in Japan to become F1’s youngest-ever championship leader at 19. Watching their battle intensify will be fascinating with rival drivers intent on breaking their monopoly.