Toto Wolff says grid will be much closer at Miami GP

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff says the Miami Grand Prix will be a much tighter affair than the opening three races of 2026, where the Silver Arrows swept all victories. He noted a five‑week break gave rivals time to close the gap and that new Miami rule tweaks aim to preserve F1’s DNA while delivering more action.

Why it matters:

Mercedes sit 45 points clear of Ferrari in the Constructors’ standings, so a tighter grid could compress the championship fight for both teams and drivers. Fans also stand to gain from a more unpredictable showdown.

The details:

• Mercedes lead the Constructors by 45 points, but Ferrari are expected to chip away as rivals improve.
• Drivers: 19‑year‑old Kimi Antonelli leads by nine points, with George Russell close behind after his early wins.
• Wolff says Mercedes used the break to analyse early races, fix weaknesses and lift overall performance.
• Miami rule changes: reduced qualifying recharge, higher super‑clipping power, a 150 kW boost cap and aids to slow race starts.

What's next:

The Miami weekend will reveal whether the grid tightens as expected and if the rule tweaks deliver closer, more dynamic racing. A narrowed field could reshape the championship trajectory heading into the summer, forcing Mercedes and Ferrari to up their game.