But will the fine detail of these changes add up to a noticeable difference? It may take a few races before that can be answered definitively.<\/p>\n
Has F1 solved drivers\u2019 safety fears?<\/p>\n
Whether that goes far enough is something only the drivers can assess. It also goes hand-in-hand with the trickier question of whether F1\u2019s rules on defensive driving need to be reconsidered<\/a> if the closing speeds are not reduced sufficiently to reduce the risks of an unacceptably dangerous aerial crash<\/a>.<\/p>\n Advert | Become a RaceFans supporter and go ad-free<\/a><\/p>\n Goodbye to \u2018gimmicky\u2019 passes?<\/p>\n The quality of the racing in F1 at the moment is a divisive subject. Some drivers, past and present, have derided it as artificial \u201cyo-yo racing\u201d, others have stuck up for it. According to Alexander Albon<\/a>, the view that racing has become too \u201cgimmicky\u201d in at least some respects was put to the FIA in the discussions around the new rules.<\/p>\n A slower show?<\/p>\n One change which seems certain this weekend is that F1 cars will become slower as a result of the rules tweaks. How much slower remains to be seen, but the addition of F2 to the support roster, due to the cancellation of its last two rounds, could provide an interesting benchmark.<\/p>\n Are Mercedes still on top?<\/p>\n F1\u2019s rules changes may not have a great effect on the pecking order, but the unexpected gap between rounds three and four is more likely to. The five-week break, with the kind of mandatory factory shutdowns seen in summer, will have allowed all teams to focus their energies on understanding and developing their cars.<\/p>\n Several have used the opportunity to conduct \u2018filming days\u2019, giving them a chance to run their chassis. Some, notably McLaren and Red Bull, have indicated they will bring upgrades this weekend.<\/p>\n Mercedes head into the fourth round having locked out the front row for the first three grands prix and won all of them, plus the sprint race in Shanghai. But McLaren were genuine contenders for victory in Suzuka and the fight at the front could be about to get interesting.<\/p>\n Advert | Become a RaceFans supporter and go ad-free<\/a><\/p>\n Home welcomes for Cadillac and Ford?<\/p>\n F1 already had one American team \u2013 albeit with bases in Britain and Italy as well as North Carolina \u2013 in Haas. Now two US teams will contest the country\u2019s home round.<\/p>\n Another major US brand has also joined F1 this year. However Ford\u2019s presence is not as obvious, extending only to co-naming rights with Red Bull\u2019s engine programme. What kind of reception will the two major US automotive brands get from the home crowd in Miami?<\/p>\n A weaker track for Russell?<\/p>\n Having captured the championship lead in Japan, will Andrea Kimi Antonelli<\/a> extend his advantage in Miami?<\/p>\n While George Russell<\/a> held the upper hand over him at almost every race last year, Miami was a notable exception. Antonelli took pole position for the sprint race and out-qualified Russell for the grand prix, too. <\/p>\n Yes, Antonelli has had some luck on his side to have won two grands prix so far this year, but Russell has also been ineffective at times, notably after Safety Car restarts. A third consecutive grand prix victory for Antonelli this weekend would be a serious statement of his championship credentials.<\/p>\n Advert | Become a RaceFans supporter and go ad-free<\/a><\/p>\n Colapinto here to stay?<\/p>\n Has he made himself an F1 fixture in that time? If popularity alone guaranteed a driver\u2019s F1 future, Colapinto would have nothing to worry about, as the incredible reaction he received in Buenos Aires from a crowd reputedly in excess of half a million people last weekend demonstrated.<\/p>\n His results may not be quite on a par with those of team mate Pierre Gasly<\/a> but he\u2019s performed well and had some poor luck \u2013 notably when he was hit by Esteban Ocon in China while running strongly. A year on from his return to F1, Colapinto increasingly looks like he\u2019s here to stay.<\/p>\n Miss nothing from RaceFans<\/p>\n Get a daily email with all our latest stories – and nothing else. No marketing, no ads. Sign up here:<\/p>\n![\"Bearman's](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/bearman-470x313.jpg\")
<\/a>Analysis: Was Bearman right to question Colapinto\u2019s role in his huge Suzuka crash?<\/a>The biggest concern arising from the opening races was undoubtedly the dangers presented by the high closing speeds between cars. The FIA has taken direct steps to tackle this by capping the maximum boost limit available to drivers in race situations and introducing a cap on MGU-K deployment of 250kW at certain points on the lap.<\/p>\n![\"Alexander](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/racefansdotnet-24-03-29-14-15-44-4-2268867182-470x313.jpg\")
<\/a>Report: FIA has listened to F1 drivers\u2019 concerns over \u201cgimmicky\u201d racing \u2013 Albon<\/a>Will that change this weekend? There was some indication the strange phenomenon of \u2018yo-yo racing\u2019 was already becoming less apparent over the opening races \u2013 perhaps because drivers and teams were becoming more used to the quirks of the new power units, perhaps because of differences in track configurations. The two races this weekend \u2013 Saturday\u2019s sprint race and Sunday\u2019s grand prix \u2013 should reveal more about that trend and whether the rules changes have had a bearing.<\/p>\n![\"Cadillac's](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/racefansdotnet-cadillac-470x313.jpg\")
<\/a>Pictures: Cadillac\u2019s special livery for Miami Grand Prix<\/a>Cadillac may not be on par with Haas in the championship just yet but they\u2019ve made a credible and consistent start to life in F1. With a best finish so far of 13th place (Valtteri Bottas<\/a> in China), points in their home grand prix will probably be too much to hope for.<\/p>\n![\"Franco](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/racefansdotnet-24-04-26-15-58-25-5-2704FrancoRoadshow-23-470x313.jpg\")
<\/a>Colapinto drew a huge crowd in Buenos AiresJack Doohan\u2019s<\/a> F1 career came to an end 12 months ago in Miami when he retired on the first lap of the grand prix. Franco Colapinto took his place and parlayed that into his first full-season deal to drive for Alpine.<\/p>\n