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Antonelli earns global acclaim as Wolff comments on V8 plans

by sports••0
Antonelli earns global acclaim as Wolff comments on V8 plans
From Kimi Antonelli’s Miami victory, further strengthening his grip on the championship, to Toto Wolff’s stance on a possible return of V8 engines to Formula 1: here are today’s top stories.
Leading newspapers across the world, including Marca, La Gazzetta dello Sport and Bild, highlighted the Italian driver’s rapid rise, contrasting it with George Russell’s difficult situation, now trailing by 20 points after just four races.

The Spanish outlet pointed to Antonelli’s growing confidence and suggested his advantage could prove difficult to overturn without setbacks such as mechanical issues or incidents, adding that Italy’s Formula 1 celebrations are continuing.

La Gazzetta dello Sport, meanwhile, emphasised how the strongest driver on the grid is now Italian, suggesting there is real reason to dream as the 19-year-old from Bologna continues to establish himself as a genuine contender for the 2026 world title.

Finally, the German newspaper described the race as one that would have been thrilling even without the added chaos, underlining Antonelli’s victory and his extension of the championship lead to 20 points, while highlighting the remarkable impact of the teenage Mercedes driver.

Photo: Race Pictures

The comments made by FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem on the eve of the Miami weekend sparked significant discussion, as he revealed he was pushing for a return to V8 engines, phased out after 2014, as early as 2030, even without the backing of power unit manufacturers, in line with the next regulatory cycle.

Speaking to media including GPblog after the Miami GP, Wolff pushed back against the idea of short-term changes to the engine regulations, arguing that the racing on display in Miami proved the current formula can still deliver strong spectacle, with battles both at the front and in the midfield. He acknowledged that Mercedes had been caught out more than some rivals in terms of energy management, particularly on a track where deployment played a key role, but stressed that such variation between circuits is part of the challenge.

At the same time, Wolff made it clear he is open to refining the current package in the medium term, especially when it comes to improving straight-line speed through deployment modes, and did not rule out extracting more performance from the internal combustion engine, provided teams are given sufficient time to develop solutions.