Formula 1 is back after a month‑long hiatus, kicking off the 2026 campaign with a high‑octane Sprint weekend in Miami. The race weekend promises plenty of drama, especially as the championship battle tightens and teams roll out fresh upgrades after the five‑week break.
At the top of the Drivers' Championship, rookie sensation Kimi Antonelli holds a slim nine‑point lead after consecutive victories in China and Japan. His closest rival is his Mercedes teammate George Russell, who trails by just those nine points. Mercedes have dominated the opening trio of races, but the recent regulatory tweaks and the extended pause mean the pecking order could shift dramatically once the teams hit the streets of Miami with new parts and aerodynamic packages.
Ferrari and McLaren are eager to prove they have narrowed the gap to the Silver Arrows. Lando Norris will be back at the circuit where he celebrated his maiden Grand Prix win in 2024, hoping to replicate that success on a track that favours bold overtaking moves. Oscar Piastri, who almost halted Mercedes’ winning streak in Japan, suffered from an ill‑timed Safety Car, but his performance suggests he could be a serious contender in Miami. The Ferraris, having shown impressive pace in recent practice sessions, are expected to fight for front‑row positions, giving Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton another shot at a podium finish.
Meanwhile, Red Bull’s Max Verstappen finds himself down in ninth place in the standings. The Dutch champion has publicly hinted at reconsidering his future in the sport, especially as the new power‑unit regulations loom on the horizon. Fans will be watching closely to see whether Verstappen’s comments about a possible exit are genuine or simply a negotiation tactic, and how the changes to the engine formula might affect his performance. Because this is a Sprint event, the weekend schedule is compressed.
There will be only a single practice session on Friday before the Sprint Qualifying session later that evening. The results of the Sprint Qualifying will set the grid for the short Sprint race, which itself awards points and adds an extra layer of excitement to the weekend.
After the Sprint, the traditional qualifying session on Saturday will determine the starting order for the main Grand Prix on Sunday. Miami’s street circuit, first introduced to the calendar in 2022, is renowned for its blend of long straights and tight corners.
The layout offers multiple overtaking opportunities, particularly at the exit of the back‑straight leading into Turn 11 and the sweeping Turn 17 complex. However, the proximity of the barriers means any mistake is quickly punished – drivers must balance aggression with precision to stay on the track.
Weather forecasts indicate a typical Miami summer day: Saturday is expected to be dry and hot, with ambient temperatures hovering around 30 °C. Sunday, the day of the Grand Prix, brings a higher risk of thunderstorms, and rain could play a decisive role in strategy, tyre selection, and overall race dynamics. For viewers in the United Kingdom, Sky Sports provides comprehensive coverage.
Sky customers can watch the entire weekend – from Friday’s practice session through to the Grand Prix on Sunday at 9 pm – on the Sky Sports F1 channel. The Sky Sports app also offers a mobile viewing experience, complete with the option to follow a specific driver’s on‑board feed.
If you don’t have a Sky subscription, you can still access the action via the NOW streaming service. NOW offers contract‑free, day‑or‑month‑based passes that grant you access to all Sky Sports channels, including the dedicated F1 feed. The service works on over 60 devices, allowing you to watch from a laptop, tablet, smartphone, or smart TV. Subscriptions can be cancelled at any time, making it a flexible option for casual viewers.
In addition to live television, Sky Sports runs a live blog for fans on the move, providing minute‑by‑minute updates, timing screens, and race analysis. Highlights are posted shortly after the chequered flag on the Sky Sports app, so you can catch up on any missed action. Here’s a quick rundown of the Miami weekend schedule: **Saturday, 2 May** - 2:55 pm – F2 Sprint - 4:00 pm – Miami GP Sprint build‑up - 5:00 pm – Miami GP Sprint (race) - 6:30 pm – Ted’s Sprint Notebook (analysis) - 8:00 pm – Qualifying build‑up - 9:00 pm – Miami GP Qualifying (sets grid for Sunday) - 11:00 pm – Ted’s Qualifying Notebook (post‑qualifying review) **Sunday, 3 May** - 5:25 pm – F2 Feature Race - 7:00 pm – Miami GP build‑up (pre‑race show) - 9:00 pm – The Miami Grand Prix (main race) - 11:00 pm – Post‑race reaction and analysis - 12:00 am – Ted’s Notebook (final thoughts) All events are also simulcast on Sky Sports Main Event for those who prefer the flagship channel.
To make the most of the broadcast, Sky recommends using the Chrome browser for an optimized video player experience. Whether you are watching on a TV, laptop, or mobile device, the platform aims to deliver a seamless, high‑definition stream. In summary, the Miami Sprint weekend marks the official restart of the 2026 Formula 1 season, offering a blend of sprint excitement, strategic intrigue, and the potential for championship shake‑ups.
Tune in to Sky Sports F1 or stream via NOW to catch every moment of the action, from the opening practice to the final chequered flag.