Miami GP: Begin time for Sunday’s race moved earlier amid menace of thunderstorms in Florida

The scheduled begin time of Sunday’s Miami Grand Prix has been moved three hours earlier amid the specter of thunderstorms in Florida.

The race had initially been scheduled for 9pm UK time (4pm native), however following qualifying on Saturday, F1 and the FIA introduced a brand new begin time of 6pm UK time (1pm native).

The newest forecasts recommend there can be rain within the morning earlier than storms arrive mid-afternoon and stay all through the night.

Florida legal guidelines advocate the suspension of out of doors sports activities occasions instantly upon the sound of thunder, with resumption not allowed till half-hour after the latest clap of thunder or lightning strike.

A joint assertion from the FIA, FOM and the Miami Grand Prix stated: “Following discussions between FIA, FOM and the Miami promoter, the choice has been taken to maneuver the beginning of Sunday’s Miami Grand Prix to 1pm native time in Miami because of the climate forecast that’s anticipated to carry heavier rainstorms later within the afternoon near the unique deliberate race begin time.

“This decision has been taken to ensure the least amount of disruption to the race, and to ensure the maximum possible window to complete the Grand Prix in the best conditions and to prioritise the safety of drivers, fans, teams and staff.”

World championship chief Kimi Antonelli claimed pole place for Mercedes on Saturday after seeing off the problem of a resurgent Max Verstappen, who took second for Purple Bull.

That represented a turnaround in type after McLaren had dominated the Dash occasions, with reigning world champion Lando Norris main a one-two from team-mate Oscar Piastri.

The final time the FIA modified a race begin time was on the 2024 Sao Paulo Grand Prix, when the occasion was additionally moved earlier amid a equally regarding forecast.

Whether it is moist, there are restrictions to the automobiles after they had been revamped for this yr with new rules. Straight Line Mode, when the entrance and rear wings open on the straights to have much less drag, can be banned, as is Enhance Mode, so the automobiles can be unable to deploy the additional 350kW in energy out of the corners.

Antonelli hopes to keep away from ‘loopy situations’ however open to rolling begin

Pole-sitter Kimi Antonelli has struggled together with his begins to this point this season, with the newest instance coming as he dropped from second on the grid to fourth on the primary lap of Saturday’s Dash in Miami.

Whereas rain isn’t seen as supreme for a pole-sitter, Antonelli appeared enthused by the prospect of a rolling reasonably than stationary begin, which could possibly be used if situations are moist for Sunday’s race.

Antonelli informed Sky Sports activities F1: “If it is a rolling begin, undoubtedly it would take that (standing begin) component out of the way in which, however let’s have a look at.

“Obviously it’s meant to be raining a lot, so let’s see also with timings what’s going to happen. Hopefully we’re going to be able to find the best timing in order not to have crazy conditions.”

Given there have been simply three races in F1’s all-new automobiles for 2026, nearly all of the sector have had little or no, if any time driving their new automobiles in moist situations.

Antonelli added: “For sure it’s going to be slippery in the wet, if there is any, and it’s not going to be easy also because everyone has so little experience, and some of us even don’t have any experience in the wet.

“It is going to be fairly a brand new problem for everybody.”

Red Bull’s Verstappen, who starts on the front row for the first time this season, said: “I’ve pushed them [in the wet], after all, in Barcelona [during pre-season]. I believe it was solely me and Charles that day, we had been driving, so yeah, it was fairly lonely.

“It’s quite a handful. It’s not going to be easy. But let’s first also wait and see how much water is going to come down, because that also makes a big difference.”

Piastri, who begins seventh, quipped that McLaren “probably [need to] build some oars first”.

He added: “I’ve not looked at the forecast but everyone’s spoken about it the whole weekend, so I’m just going to roll with that.

“We’ll see what we get. Whether it is moist, that is clearly going to throw in quite a lot of spanners within the works as a result of nobody has actually pushed these automobiles within the rain, and nobody actually is aware of what they will do. So, hopefully we’re on the appropriate aspect of that.”

Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton, who is sixth on the grid, has more experience of driving the new cars in the wet than most after he completed two days of bespoke wet-weather testing for Pirelli at Fiorano during F1’s enforced April break.

Speaking on Thursday in Miami, Hamilton said: “I’ve undoubtedly finished extra moist testing than in all probability ever earlier than. I had an entire day in Barcelona, which was not enjoyable, after which I had two days of moist testing two weeks in the past.”

Sky Sports activities F1’s Miami GP schedule

Sunday Might 3
2.25pm: F2 Function Race
4pm: Miami GP build-up: Grand Prix Sunday
6pm: THE MIAMI GRAND PRIX*
8pm: Miami GP response: Chequered Flag*
9pm: Ted’s Pocket book*

*Additionally on Sky Sports activities Principal Occasion

Components 1 is in Miami because the 2026 season resumes, watch dwell on Sky Sports activities F1 with Sunday’s Grand Prix at 6pm. Stream Sky Sports activities with NOW – no contract, cancel anytime