Formula 1 is back after a month‑long hiatus, kicking off the 2026 campaign with a thrilling Sprint weekend in Miami. The return of the sport brings fresh excitement, as teams and drivers head to the vibrant streets of South Florida for a packed schedule that includes a shortened practice session, Sprint Qualifying, the Sprint race itself, and the full Grand Prix on Sunday.
At the top of the Drivers' Championship, Kimi Antonelli sits in first place, having secured consecutive victories in China and Japan. His nine‑point lead over Mercedes teammate George Russell reflects a strong start to the season, but the standings are still fluid. Mercedes, which has dominated the opening three races, may see its advantage wane after the five‑week break. The pause has given every team a window to develop and install upgrades, and the Miami circuit—renowned for its high‑speed straights and tight corners—will test how effectively those improvements translate into on‑track performance.
Ferrari and McLaren are eager to close the gap to the Silver Arrows. Lando Norris returns to the venue where he claimed his maiden Grand Prix win in 2024, hoping to replicate that success.
Meanwhile, Oscar Piastri came agonisingly close to halting Mercedes' winning streak in Japan, only to be thwarted by an ill‑timed Safety Car. The Italian’s near‑miss underscores the fine margins that define sprint events, where a single incident can reshape the entire weekend’s outcome. Ferraris, with their rapid start capability, are also expected to be front‑runners, providing Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton with additional opportunities to climb onto the podium. Red Bull’s Max Verstappen finds himself in an unusual position—ninth in the standings after a series of underwhelming results.
He has recently hinted at contemplating his future in the sport, sparking speculation about his reaction to the upcoming power‑unit regulation changes and whether his earlier threat to quit remains sincere. Verstappen’s perspective will be closely watched, as any shift in his mindset could have ripple effects across the paddock. The Miami weekend is structured as a Sprint format, meaning there will be only one practice session before the drivers head straight into Sprint Qualifying on Friday night.
The practice session has been extended to 90 minutes—longer than the usual hour—due to the five‑week gap since the previous race. It will commence at 5 p.m. UK time, giving teams ample opportunity to fine‑tune their setups for the street circuit’s unique demands. Miami entered the F1 calendar in 2022, and its layout is celebrated for providing abundant overtaking opportunities.
The long straights feed into Turn 11 and Turn 17, where drivers can execute daring passes. However, the proximity of the walls on this street circuit means errors are punished severely; precision is essential, and the fastest drivers will be those who can hug the barriers without losing control.
Weather forecasts predict a dry, hot weekend with temperatures hovering around 28 °C throughout Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Such conditions will influence tire strategy and cooling systems, adding another layer of complexity for engineers and drivers alike. The broadcast schedule on Sky Sports 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 at 5 p.m.
UK); 7.25 p.m.: F2 Qualifying; 8.10 p.m.: Team Bosses' Press Conference; 8.40 p.m.: Miami GP Sprint Qualifying (starts at 9.30 p.m.) - Saturday, 2 May – 2.55 p.m.: F2 Sprint; 4 p.m.: Miami GP Sprint build‑up; 5 p.m.: Miami GP Sprint; 6.30 p.m.: Ted's Sprint Notebook; 8 p.m.: Miami GP 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.: Miami GP build‑up; 9 p.m.: The Miami Grand Prix; 11 p.m.: Miami GP reaction; 12 a.m.: Ted's Notebook All listed events marked with an asterisk will also be shown on Sky Sports Main Event. Viewers can watch the action via multiple channels: - **Television:** Sky subscribers can tune into Sky Sports F1 from the first practice session on Friday afternoon through to the Grand Prix on Sunday at 9 p.m. - **App:** The Sky Sports app allows subscribers to stream the coverage, with an optional feature to follow a specific driver’s onboard feed. - **Streaming:** Non‑Sky customers may purchase a NOW Day pass or a flexible month‑to‑month membership, granting access to the full race weekend without a long‑term contract.
- **Live Blog:** For those on the move, a dedicated F1 live blog provides minute‑by‑minute updates. - **Highlights:** Sky Sports app users can watch race highlights shortly after the chequered flag.
Sky Sports subscribers also receive additional resources, such as guidance on locating or creating a Sky iD, and support for the NOW streaming service. NOW offers instant access to all twelve Sky Sports channels and Sky Sports+ streams across more than 60 devices, with contract‑free options that can be cancelled at any time. Membership can be purchased on a daily or monthly basis, with pricing details available on the NOW website. In summary, the Miami Grand Prix promises a weekend filled with high‑octane action, strategic intrigue, and the chance for drivers to reshape the early‑season leaderboard.
Whether you are a devoted fan tracking the championship battle, a casual viewer looking for exciting street‑circuit racing, or someone curious about the evolving dynamics of Formula 1, Sky Sports provides comprehensive coverage to keep you engaged from practice to podium celebrations.