Formula 1 makes its return after a month-long hiatus, kicking off the 2026 campaign with a Sprint‑format weekend in Miami. The American street circuit will host the second Sprint event of the year, offering fans a compact programme of action that begins with an extended practice session on Friday and culminates in a full‑distance Grand Prix on Sunday. Heading into the weekend, Kimi Antonelli sits atop the Drivers' Championship after securing consecutive victories in China and Japan.
His nine‑point lead over Mercedes teammate George Russell underscores a tightly contested title race, with every point now crucial as the calendar moves to a venue that rewards both outright speed and precision. Mercedes have dominated the opening three rounds, but the five‑week intermission has given all teams a window to introduce upgrades, and the altered regulations mean the hierarchy could shift once the cars hit the concrete walls of Miami. Ferrari and McLaren will be eager to demonstrate that the gap to the Silver Arrows is narrowing.
Lando Norris returns to the circuit where he celebrated his maiden Grand Prix win in 2024, and he will be looking to replicate that success on a track that offers multiple overtaking opportunities, especially down the long straights leading into Turn 11 and the tight hairpin at Turn 17. Oscar Piastri, who came agonisingly close to ending Mercedes' winning streak in Japan, was unlucky with the timing of a Safety Car, but his pace suggests he could be a real threat in Miami.
The Ferraris, with their strong start‑up characteristics, are expected to fight for front‑row positions, giving Charles Leclerc and even Lewis Hamilton a chance to climb onto the podium. Red Bull’s Max Verstappen finds himself down in ninth place in the standings, a surprising position given his dominance in recent seasons. Verstappen has publicly hinted at uncertainty regarding his future in the sport, and the upcoming Sprint weekend will be a litmus test for his feelings about the new power‑unit regulations and his earlier statements about possibly stepping away. Observers will be watching closely to see whether his performance improves or if his doubts translate into a lackluster weekend.
Because the event follows the Sprint format, the schedule is compressed. There will be only one practice session on Friday, but the usual 60‑minute slot has been stretched to 90 minutes to give teams extra time to fine‑tune their setups after the long break. The session starts at 5 p.m.
UK time (11 p.m. local Miami time) and will be the sole opportunity for drivers to gather data before the Sprint Qualifying later that evening. After the Sprint Qualifying, the weekend proceeds with the Sprint race on Saturday, followed by the traditional Grand Prix qualifying and the main race on Sunday. Miami entered the F1 calendar in 2022, and its layout is renowned for producing dramatic battles.
The circuit’s long straights feed into heavy braking zones, creating prime overtaking spots at Turn 11 and Turn 17. However, as a street circuit, the barriers lie close to the track, meaning errors are quickly punished. Drivers must balance aggression with precision, staying as close to the walls as possible without losing control. Weather forecasts predict a dry, hot weekend with temperatures hovering around 28 °C (82 °F) throughout the three days.
No rain is expected, which should allow teams to run their optimal tyre strategies without the complications that wet conditions bring. The weekend’s full timetable is as follows: - Thursday, 30 April – 7 p.m. Drivers' Press Conference; 10 p.m. Paddock Uncut.
- Friday, 1 May – 2.25 p.m. F2 Practice; 4.30 p.m. Miami GP Practice One (starts 5 p.m.
UK); 7.25 p.m. F2 Qualifying; 8.10 p.m. Team Bosses' Press Conference; 8.40 p.m. Sprint Qualifying (starts 9.30 p.m.
UK). - Saturday, 2 May – 2.55 p.m. F2 Sprint; 4 p.m.
Sprint build‑up; 5 p.m. Miami GP Sprint; 6.30 p.m. Ted’s Sprint Notebook; 8 p.m. Qualifying build‑up; 9 p.m.
Miami GP Qualifying; 11 p.m. Ted’s Qualifying Notebook. - Sunday, 3 May – 5.25 p.m.
F2 Feature Race; 7 p.m. Grand Prix build‑up; 9 p.m.
Miami Grand Prix; 11 p.m. Post‑race reaction; 12 a.m. Ted’s Notebook. All events marked with an asterisk will also be broadcast on Sky Sports Main Event.
Viewership options include: - **Television:** Sky Sports F1 will carry the entire weekend from the opening practice to the race finish on Sunday. - **App:** Sky customers can stream via the Sky Sports app, with an interactive feature that lets viewers follow any driver’s onboard feed. - **Streaming:** Non‑Sky subscribers can access the action through the NOW platform, available as a day‑pass or a month‑to‑month membership that can be cancelled at any time. - **Live Blog:** For those on the move, a dedicated F1 live blog provides minute‑by‑minute updates.
- **Highlights:** Sky Sports app users receive highlight reels shortly after the chequered flag. NOW is a contract‑free streaming service that offers all twelve Sky Sports channels, including Sky Sports+, across more than 60 devices. Membership can be purchased on a monthly or daily basis, with the latest pricing listed on the NOW website. In summary, the Miami Sprint weekend promises a blend of high‑speed drama, strategic intrigue, and the potential for a reshuffling of the early‑season order.
With an extended practice session, a compressed schedule, and a track that rewards daring moves, drivers and teams will be under pressure to extract every ounce of performance. Fans can tune in via Sky Sports, the Sky Sports app, or the NOW streaming service to witness how the championship narrative evolves in the heat of South Florida.