F1 brings Miami GP start time forward amid thunderstorm threat
Formula 1's Miami Grand Prix will start at 1pm local time on Sunday, three hours before the originally scheduled time, as a response to incoming weather.
Heavy rain and thunderstorm are forecast for Sunday afternoon, so F1 management, governing body the FIA and Miami Grand Prix organisers sat down on Saturday evening to discuss potential schedule changes.
With conditions expected to gradually worsen over the afternoon, a decision was made to bring the race start forward to 1pm local time, giving race control a much larger window to get a full race in.
"Following discussions between FIA, FOM and the Miami promoter, the decision has been taken to move the start of Sunday’s Miami Grand Prix to 13:00 local time in Miami due to the weather forecast that is expected to bring heavier rainstorms later in the afternoon close to the original planned race start time," said a joint statement by F1 management and the FIA.
"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."
Lando Norris, McLaren
The biggest issue F1 is dealing with is the threat of lightning, as local laws mean that any lightning within an eight-mile radius of the Miami GP venue mean the event has to be halted and all spectators and personnel must seek shelter. Only after a 30-minute break without any further lightning in the are can the event be resumed.
The FIA has also declared a rain hazard before the start of qualifying, which is a new protocol for 2026 that came into play when the chance of rain for the race is above 40%.
The protocol allows F1 teams to make additional car changes under parc ferme that would otherwise be prohibited by the sporting regulations. Teams can now increase ride heights to account for a wet race, and they can also tweak the angle of the front wing flap for Straight Mode.
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If race control declares low grip conditions during the race, there will be further changes to how the 2026 cars can be operated.
In that case drivers will no longer be allowed to use the boost mode of their power unit, the deployment of the MGU-K will be lowered from 350kW to 250kW, and the Straight Mode can only be activated on the front wing and not the rear.
As part of the revised schedule, the F2 feature race will now start at 09:25 local time.
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Photos from Miami GP - Saturday
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
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Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
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Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
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Sergio Perez, Cadillac Racing
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Flavio Briatore, Alpine
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Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing
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George Russell, Mercedes
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Carlos Sainz, Williams
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Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team
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Lando Norris, McLaren
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Aston Martin F1 Team Garage
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Lando Norris, McLaren
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Lance Stroll, Aston Martin Racing
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Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
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Franco Colapinto, Alpine
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Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing, Flavio Briatore, Alpine
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Zak Brown, McLaren
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Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls
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Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing
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Lando Norris, McLaren
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Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing
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Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Oscar Piastri, McLaren, George Russell, Mercedes
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Lando Norris, McLaren
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Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team
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Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
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Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing
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Oscar Piastri, McLaren
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George Russell, Mercedes, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
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Lando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLaren
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Nico Hülkenberg, Audi F1 Team
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Lando Norris, McLaren
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Nico Hülkenberg, Audi F1 Team
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Lando Norris, McLaren
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Lando Norris, McLaren
Ryan Pierse / Getty Images
Lando Norris, McLaren
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Lando Norris, McLaren
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Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Lando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLaren
Ryan Pierse / Getty Images
Oscar Piastri, McLaren
Sona Maleterova / Getty Images
Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team
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Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
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Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing
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Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
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Lando Norris, McLaren
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Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Rudy Carezzevoli / Getty Images
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
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Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
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Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
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Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
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Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
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