Blowouts, big moves: What to expect at Formula One's Miami Grand Prix

Here are the storylines worth following as F1 enters its fifth weekend of the season: 

American driver Logan Sargeant's uncertain F1 future

While the details of Sargeant's deal with Williams Racing are hazy, many, including German ex-driver Ralf Schumacher, believe he's on a rare (and stressful) race-to-race contract. If that is the case, it's a structure that gives Williams the ability to drop Sargeant in the middle of the season if it believes he isn't performing. 

With four Grands Prix races under his belt in 2024, Sargeant hasn't looked impressive. Could Williams cut him in favor of Mercedes wunderkind Kimi Antonelli? 

Miami is Sargeant's home race – he grew up a few miles north in Boca Raton – and it may be his last opportunity to prove his worth in F1.

Technical leader Adrian Newey's next step

Newey isn't a driver or a team principal – he's a car designer and chief technical officer – but he is one of the most important figures in the F1 paddock nonetheless. Newey's vehicles have won 12 F1 Constructors' Championships and his 19-year stint at Red Bull has culminated in the team's dominance in 2022, 2023 and 2024.

But all is not well at Red Bull. Team principal Christian Horner's off-track drama has thrown the outfit into avoidable disarray. 

Newey (one of Horner's key associates) expressed his displeasure by announcing his imminent departure from the team. Where Newey goes, championships follow, so everyone in F1 is clamoring to secure his services. 

Will he land at Ferrari and partner with seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton? Will he return to Williams after many decades away? Will he join up with Andretti, the would-be American team attempting to join F1? (Newey was Mario Andretti's race engineer early in his career and the two are close.) 

No one knows, but Newey's decision will heavily impact the future of F1.

Sprint drama

This is F1's second sprint weekend of the season, which means teams and drivers are facing an abbreviated schedule: one practice instead of three. The Miami International Autodrome is a relatively new track – this is just its third year on the F1 calendar – and drivers haven't been shy about how difficult it is to handle.

"It's a disaster," Alpine's Esteban Ocon said of the track before the 2023 incarnation of the race. 

When tracks are difficult, practices are key. This sprint schedule means drivers will be forced to perform with fewer reps. It could lead to surprises in the grid order, but it's more likely to lead to understandable complaints from drivers who'd prefer a bit more repetition for safety and entertainment's sake.

The race is set Sunday at 4 p.m. EST.