The kickoff for Sunday’s Miami Grand Prix has been shifted three hours earlier because of an anticipated thunderstorm threat across Florida. Originally slated for 9 p.m. UK time (4 p.m.
local), the race will now begin at 6 p.m. UK time (1 p.m.
Miami time) following a decision made after Saturday’s qualifying session. Forecasts indicate rain will fall in the morning, with thunderstorms developing by mid‑afternoon and persisting into the evening. Florida statutes require that any outdoor sporting event be halted the moment thunder is heard, and that the event may only resume after a 30‑minute lull following the last lightning strike.
In light of these regulations, the FIA, Formula One Management (FOM) and the Miami Grand Prix promoters issued a joint statement: "After extensive consultations between the FIA, FOM and the Miami promoter, we have elected to move the start of Sunday’s Miami Grand Prix to 1 p.m. local time because the weather forecast predicts heavier rainstorms later in the afternoon, close to the originally planned start.
This adjustment aims to minimise disruption, maximise the window for a safe and competitive race, and protect drivers, fans, teams and staff." Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli secured pole position on Saturday, edging out a resurging Max Verstappen, who finished second for Red Bull. The pole‑sitter’s performance came after a dramatic sprint weekend in which McLaren, led by reigning champion Lando Norris, claimed a one‑two finish with teammate Oscar Piastri.
The last occasion the FIA altered a Grand Prix start time was the 2024 São Paulo event, which was also moved forward due to a comparable weather outlook. Should rain affect the race, several technical restrictions will come into play. This year’s new aerodynamic package introduced a "Straight Line Mode" that opens front and rear wings on the straights to reduce drag, and a "Boost Mode" that provides an extra 350 kW of power out of corners.
Both features will be prohibited in wet conditions, meaning teams must run the cars without these performance aids. Antonelli’s qualifying triumph has been tempered by a rocky start to the weekend. He dropped from second on the grid to fourth on the first lap of Saturday’s sprint, highlighting his ongoing struggle with race starts.
Nevertheless, the prospect of a rolling start—if the track becomes too wet for a traditional standing start—appeals to him. "If it’s a rolling start, it removes the standing‑start element, which could be beneficial in the rain. We’ll see what the timing looks like and hope we can avoid chaotic conditions," he told Sky Sports F1.
With only three races completed in the brand‑new 2026 cars, most drivers have had limited exposure to wet‑weather performance in these machines. Antonelli admitted, "It will be slippery if it rains, and many of us have little to no experience in the wet.
It’s a fresh challenge for everyone." Verstappen, who will line up on the front row for the first time this season, reflected on his limited wet‑weather practice: "I drove in the wet in Barcelona during pre‑season, just me and Charles that day. It was quite lonely and definitely a handful. It won’t be easy, but we’ll have to see how much water falls, because that makes a huge difference." Piastri, starting seventh, joked that McLaren may need to "build some oars" to navigate the potential deluge.
He added, "Everyone’s been talking about the forecast all weekend, so I’ll just go with it. If it’s wet, that throws a lot of spanners in the works because no one has really driven these cars in rain, and we’re all guessing what will happen. Hopefully we’re on the right side of that." Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton, positioned sixth on the grid, brings more wet‑testing experience than most of the field. He completed two days of bespoke wet‑weather testing for Pirelli at Fiorano during the mandatory April break, in addition to a full day of wet running in Barcelona.
"I’ve definitely done more wet testing than probably ever before – a whole day in Barcelona and two days at Fiorano recently," Hamilton said in a pre‑race interview. The weekend schedule is packed: the F2 Feature Race kicks off at 2.25 p.m. on Sunday, followed by the Miami GP build‑up at 4 p.m., the Grand Prix itself at 6 p.m., the post‑race reaction at 8 p.m., and the final “Ted’s Notebook” segment at 9 p.m., all on Sky Sports Main Event. Fans can stream every Formula 1 session via NOW, with Sky Sports F1 offering live coverage of the Miami Grand Prix.
The early start aims to give organizers the best possible window to run the race under safe, competitive conditions despite the looming threat of thunderstorms.