Formula 1 makes its comeback after a month‑long hiatus, kicking off the 2026 campaign with a Sprint‑format weekend in Miami. The excitement is palpable as teams and drivers gear up for a packed schedule that promises plenty of on‑track drama and off‑track storylines. At the top of the Drivers' Championship, Kimi Antonelli holds a narrow nine‑point lead after clinching successive victories in China and Japan.
His teammate at Mercedes, George Russell, sits just behind, keeping the title fight alive. Mercedes have dominated the opening trio of races, but the recent regulatory tweaks and a five‑week break mean the hierarchy could shift once the teams arrive in Miami with fresh upgrades. Ferrari and McLaren are eager to close the gap to the Silver Arrows. Lando Norris returns to the circuit where he celebrated his maiden Grand Prix win in 2024, hoping to replicate that success on the street‑circuit’s demanding layout.
Oscar Piastri, who almost halted Mercedes’ winning streak in Japan, was unlucky with a poorly timed safety‑car deployment; he will be looking to convert that near‑miss into a podium finish in Miami. Meanwhile, the fast‑starting Ferraris are expected to challenge for the front rows, giving Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton another shot at a top‑three result. Red Bull’s Max Verstappen currently sits ninth in the standings, a surprising dip for the reigning champion.
Verstappen has recently hinted at uncertainty about 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. All eyes will be on his comments and performance throughout the weekend. Because this is a Sprint weekend, the format is slightly condensed. There is only one practice session on Friday, extended to ninety minutes rather than the usual hour, followed directly by Sprint Qualifying later that evening.
The remainder of the weekend will feature the Sprint race on Saturday and the main Grand Prix on Sunday. Miami entered the F1 calendar in 2022, and its street‑circuit layout is renowned for providing overtaking opportunities. The long straights feed into Turn 11 and Turn 17, where drivers can attempt daring passes.
However, the proximity of the walls means errors are costly; the fastest drivers will need to hug the barriers while maintaining precision. Weather forecasts predict hot, dry conditions on Friday and Saturday, with ambient temperatures hovering around 30 °C. Sunday’s race day, however, looks more uncertain, as thunderstorms are expected with a high probability of rain, potentially adding another layer of strategy regarding tyre choices and pit stops. **Schedule Overview** - **Friday, 1 May** – 2:25 pm: F2 Practice; 4:30 pm: Miami GP Practice (starts 5 pm UK); 7:25 pm: F2 Qualifying; 8:10 pm: Team Bosses' Press Conference; 8:40 pm: Sprint Qualifying (starts 9:30 pm).
- **Saturday, 2 May** – 2:55 pm: F2 Sprint; 4 pm: Sprint build‑up; 5 pm: Miami GP Sprint; 6:30 pm: Ted’s Sprint Notebook; 8 pm: Qualifying build‑up; 9 pm: Miami GP Qualifying; 11 pm: Ted’s Qualifying Notebook. - **Sunday, 3 May** – 5:25 pm: F2 Feature Race; 7 pm: Grand Prix build‑up; 9 pm: Miami Grand Prix (live); 11 pm: Post‑race reaction; 12 am: Ted’s Notebook. (All starred events also air on Sky Sports Main Event.) **How to Watch** - **TV** – Sky Sports F1 will broadcast the entire weekend, from Friday’s practice to the Sunday Grand Prix at 9 pm.
- **App** – Sky Sports app subscribers can stream live, with the added novelty of an on‑board camera feed for any driver of choice. - **Streaming** – Non‑Sky customers may purchase a NOW Day Pass or a flexible Month Pass, which provides contract‑free access to all Sky Sports channels and the ability to cancel at any time. - **Live Blog** – For those on the move, Sky Sports offers a dedicated F1 live‑blog providing minute‑by‑minute updates.
- **Highlights** – After the checkered flag, highlights are quickly uploaded to the Sky Sports app for on‑demand viewing. **Additional Resources for Sky Subscribers** - Guidance on locating or creating your Sky ID. - Information on NOW, the instant streaming platform that delivers all 12 Sky Sports channels and Sky Sports+ streams across more than 60 devices.
Membership options include month‑long or day‑long passes, with pricing details available on the NOW website. In summary, the Miami Grand Prix marks the return of Formula 1 action after a month away, offering a unique Sprint format, a challenging street circuit, and a weather‑laden race day that could shake up the early‑season standings. Whether you are a Sky Sports subscriber, a NOW streaming user, or simply following the live blog, there are multiple ways to stay connected to every twist and turn of the weekend. Make sure your browser is up to date—Chrome is recommended for the best video player experience—and enjoy the high‑octane spectacle that only F1 can deliver.