Formula One is back after a month‑long hiatus, kicking off the 2026 season with a high‑octane Sprint weekend in Miami. The excitement is palpable as teams and drivers head to the vibrant South Florida circuit for what promises to be a decisive showdown. At the top of the Drivers' Championship, Kimi Antonelli enjoys a nine‑point lead after securing back‑to‑back victories in China and Japan. His nearest rival is his Mercedes teammate George Russell, who sits just behind him in the standings.
Mercedes, the dominant force in the opening three races, could see its advantage eroded now that the sport’s technical regulations have been tweaked and every outfit has had a five‑week window to develop upgrades for the Miami event. Ferrari and McLaren are eager to close the gap to the German powerhouse.
Lando Norris, in particular, returns to the track where he celebrated his maiden Grand Prix win in 2024, hoping to replicate that success. Meanwhile, Oscar Piastri came agonisingly close to ending Mercedes' winning streak in Japan, only to be thwarted by an untimely safety‑car deployment. The Ferraris, showing promising pace, are also expected to fight for the front positions, giving Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton fresh opportunities to climb onto the podium. Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, currently ninth in the championship, has recently hinted at uncertainty about his future in the sport.
Observers will be watching closely to see how he reacts to the new power‑unit regulations and whether his previously announced intention to quit remains genuine. Because this is a Sprint format weekend, the schedule is slightly compressed.
There will be a single practice session on Friday, followed immediately by Sprint Qualifying later that evening. The rest of the weekend will feature the usual Sprint race on Saturday and the full Grand Prix on Sunday. The 2026 F1 calendar runs continuously throughout the year, and fans can stream every race without a long‑term contract via Sky Sports’ digital platforms.
In addition, The F1 Show podcast provides in‑depth analysis, while Sky Sports also offers a WhatsApp service for quick updates. The extended Friday practice session will run for 90 minutes—longer than the typical hour—starting at 5 p.m. UK time, giving teams extra track time to fine‑tune their cars after the five‑week break.
Miami entered the F1 roster in 2022, and its street‑circuit layout is renowned for offering multiple overtaking opportunities, especially down the long straights leading into Turns 11 and 17. The close‑set barriers demand precision; a single mistake can end a driver’s race, but staying tight to the walls is essential for maximizing speed. Weather forecasts predict a dry, hot weekend with temperatures hovering around 28 °C (about 82 °F) across Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
No rain is expected, which should keep the track conditions stable and allow teams to focus on strategy rather than tyre management for wet weather. Key broadcast times and events: - 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 at 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 at 9.30 p.m.).
- 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 live; 11 p.m.: Post‑race reaction; 12 a.m.: Ted’s Notebook.
All main events will also be simulcast on Sky Sports Main Event. Viewing options: * Television – Sky Sports F1 will broadcast the entire weekend, from Friday’s practice to Sunday’s Grand Prix, for Sky subscribers. * Mobile app – The Sky Sports app lets customers watch live, with the added novelty of selecting a driver’s onboard camera feed.
* Streaming – Non‑Sky customers can access the action via NOW, either through a day pass or a month‑long, cancel‑anytime subscription. * Live blog – For those on the move, a dedicated F1 blog provides minute‑by‑minute updates throughout the weekend.
* Highlights – Sky Sports app users can view race highlights shortly after the checkered flag. Sky Sports subscribers also gain access to Sky iD support, helping them locate or create their Sky iD credentials.
NOW, the instant streaming service, offers all 12 Sky Sports channels, Sky Sports+ streams, and more across more than 60 devices. Membership is contract‑free, allowing users to cancel at any time, with flexible day or month options. Current pricing details are available on the NOW website. In summary, the Miami Grand Prix marks the return of Formula 1 action this Friday, featuring the season’s second Sprint weekend.
Fans can watch live on Sky Sports F1, stream via NOW without a contract, or follow the live blog for real‑time updates. Whether you are a die‑hard follower of the championship battle between Antonelli, Russell, and the rest of the field, or simply looking for high‑speed street‑circuit drama, the Miami event promises plenty of excitement, strategic intrigue, and the chance for drivers to make a statement early in the 2026 season.