The start of the Miami Grand Prix on Sunday has been shifted three hours earlier because of a looming thunderstorm threat across Florida. Originally slated for 9 p.m. UK time (4 p.m. local), the race will now kick off at 6 p.m.
UK time (1 p.m. Miami time) after qualifying on Saturday prompted the FIA and Formula 1 management to act.
Forecasts show rain developing in the morning, with thunderstorms expected to roll in by mid‑afternoon and persist into the evening. Florida law requires that any outdoor sporting event be halted at the first sound of thunder, and it may only resume after a thirty‑minute quiet period following the last lightning strike.
In a joint statement, the FIA, Formula One Management (FOM) and the Miami Grand Prix organisers explained that moving the start to 1 p.m. local would minimise disruption, give the longest possible window for a safe race, and protect drivers, fans, teams and staff. The decision mirrors a similar adjustment made at the 2024 São Paulo Grand Prix, where the start was also brought forward because of a comparable weather outlook.
By advancing the schedule, officials hope to avoid the heaviest rain that is predicted to hit around the original 4 p.m. start time.
Should the track become wet, the new 2026 technical regulations will impose additional constraints: Straight‑Line Mode – which opens the front and rear wings on the straights to reduce drag – will be banned, as will Boost Mode, meaning the cars cannot deploy the extra 350 kW of power that would normally be available out of corners. Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli secured pole position on Saturday, edging out a resurgent Max Verstappen who finished second for Red Bull. Antonelli’s pole is notable because his starts have been uneven this season; he dropped from second on the grid to fourth on the first lap of the Sprint race in Miami.
Nevertheless, he welcomed the possibility of a rolling start in wet conditions, saying to Sky Sports F1, "If it’s a rolling start, definitely it will take that standing‑start element out of the way, but let’s see. Obviously it’s meant to be raining a lot, so let’s see also with timings what’s going to happen. Hopefully we’ll find the best timing to avoid crazy conditions." Only three races have been run in the brand‑new 2026 cars, so most drivers have limited experience handling them in the rain. Antonelli admitted, "It’s going to be slippery in the wet, if there is any, and it’s not going to be easy because everyone has so little experience, and some of us even don’t have any experience in the wet.
It’s quite a new challenge for everyone." Verstappen, who will line up on the front row for the first time this season, recalled his own wet‑weather run in Barcelona during pre‑season testing, noting, "It was just me and Charles that day, so it was quite lonely. It’s a handful. It’s not going to be easy. But we’ll first see how much water falls, because that makes a big difference." McLaren’s Oscar Piastri, starting seventh, joked that the team might need to "build some oars" to cope with the potential deluge.
He added, "Everyone has been talking about the forecast all weekend, so I’ll just roll with it. If it’s wet, that throws a lot of spanners in the works because no one has really driven these cars in the rain, and no one knows what they’ll do. Hopefully we’ll be on the right side of that." Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton, occupying sixth on the grid, brings more wet‑weather experience than most of the field.
He spent two days at Pirelli’s Fiorano test centre during the mandatory April break, completing extensive rain‑testing sessions. "I’ve definitely done more wet testing than probably ever before," Hamilton told the press in Miami. "I had a whole day in Barcelona, which was not fun, and then two days of wet testing two weeks ago." The weekend schedule is packed: the F2 Feature Race runs at 2.25 p.m. on Sunday, followed by the Miami Grand Prix build‑up at 4 p.m., the race itself at 6 p.m., a post‑race reaction segment at 8 p.m., and a final analysis segment at 9 p.m., all broadcast on Sky Sports Main Event.
Fans can stream every Formula 1 session via NOW, with a flexible, contract‑free subscription. By moving the start forward, organisers aim to give the race the best possible chance of running under safe, competitive conditions, while respecting local safety regulations. The adjustment also provides teams with a clearer window to plan tyre strategies, especially given the new wet‑weather rules that limit aerodynamic aids and power boosts.
As the 2026 season continues, the Miami Grand Prix will serve as an early test of how drivers and engineers adapt to the latest car specifications in challenging weather, potentially shaping the championship narrative for the months ahead.