The Miami Grand Prix has been moved three hours earlier than originally scheduled because of forecasts indicating a high risk of thunderstorms on Sunday.
The FIA announced a revised timetable that brings the race start forward to 1pm local time instead of the planned 4pm. Organisers made the change after weather models showed a strong likelihood of storms developing during the afternoon and evening, with the probability of heavy rain increasing later in the day and creating a risk of significant disruption to the event.
F1 regulations allow only a three-hour window from the moment a race starts for it to be completed, which contributed to the decision to change the start time to reduce the risk that the race could be curtailed or abandoned.
Historically, Formula 1 was reluctant to shift start times because of the impact on television schedules, but that policy has evolved following past disruptions such as the heavily rain-affected 2021 Belgian Grand Prix, which was ultimately classified after a single lap behind a safety car. In 2024 the FIA also brought the Brazilian Grand Prix forward for the same reason.
The revised schedule affects support series as well: the Formula 2 feature race will now begin at 9:25am local time. For viewers in the UK, the Miami Grand Prix will start at 6pm and the F2 feature race will air at 2:35pm.
Updated: Miami Grand Prix live television times
Risk of lightning adds further safety measures
The FIA has published the safety procedures it will follow to meet local requirements for lightning risk. These rules allow for suspension of the competition if conditions make it necessary to shelter personnel. The key elements of the procedures cover how the grid and the race will be handled if a lightning-related “shelter in place” is required:
In accordance with local public safety standards there is a possibility that the competition can be suspended due to risk of lightning strike at or around the circuit, in order to facilitate all personnel to “shelter in place” in a relevant location. In such circumstance, for the safe and orderly conduct of the competition, the following procedures shall apply:
During the grid procedure:
Should it be necessary to enact such “shelter in place” procedures whilst all cars are on the grid during the race starting procedure the following process shall apply:
• The start will be delayed in accordance with Article B5.14.1 of the FIA F1 Regulations.
• Teams will be informed using the official messaging system that all cars, on the grid or at the end of the pit lane, must be pushed from their location and returned to the teams’ Designated Garage Area. Garage doors must remain open until otherwise instructed. All Team personnel must leave the signalling area.
• Once the race director is satisfied it is safe to resume the starting procedure, teams will be informed using the official messaging system that cars must be pushed from their Designated Garage Area and returned to their allocated grid positions. Cars that were returned to their Designated Garage Area from the end of the pit lane may be pushed back to the end of the pit lane and must line up in the order they were in when the delayed start was announced. At this time, team personnel will be allowed to return to the signalling area, in accordance with Article B1.5.8.
• When all cars have been returned to the grid, or to the end of the pit lane, the starting procedure will begin again at the ten (10) minute signal.
During the Race:
Should it be necessary to enact such “shelter in place” procedures during the Race the following process shall apply:
• The race will be suspended in accordance with Article B14.2 of the FIA F1 Regulations, all cars must return to the pit lane and stop in the fast lane as described in Article B5.14.2b.
• Once all cars have returned to the pit lane, Teams will be informed using the official messaging system that cars must be pushed from the fast lane and returned to the teams’ garages. Garage doors must remain open until otherwise instructed. All team personnel must leave the signalling area.
For the avoidance of doubt, any car which was in their garage at the time the race was suspended, or that is moved from the fast lane to any other part of the pit lane without or prior to such instruction being given will be arranged at the back of the line of cars before the resumption in accordance with Article B5.15.1b or B5.14.4c respectively.
• Whilst the cars are in the teams’ garage the provisions of Article B5.14.4 shall apply. For the avoidance of doubt, cars may be worked on once they have stopped in the fast lane, whilst they are positioned in the teams’ garage, or once they have returned to the fast lane prior to the resumption, but any such work is restricted to that listed in Articles B5.14.4a (i to x) and must not impede the resumption of the Race.
• Once the race director is satisfied it is safe to resume the race, and no less than twenty (20) minutes prior to the expected re-start time, the re-start order will be published. At such time team personnel will be allowed to return to the signalling area, in accordance with Article B1.5.8. Under the direct supervision and instruction of the FIA Technical Delegate or their representative:
o Each team will be instructed, in turn, to push their car(s) into the fast lane such that cars may be arranged in the fast lane in accordance with the published re-start order.
o Once all cars included in the re-start order are arranged in the fast lane, any car not included in the re-start order will be released from their garage and may line up at the back of the queue of cars in the fast lane in the order they get there.
o Once all cars are arranged in the fast lane or have been given the opportunity to join the back of the queue in the fast lane, the resumption time will be announced using the official messaging system. In all cases at least 10 minutes warning will be given. From this point, the race will be resumed in accordance with Article B5.15.2 of the FIA F1 Regulations.
The FIA’s measures aim to balance the safety of teams, officials and spectators with the need to preserve the integrity of the competition. Moving the race earlier reduces the chance that worsening late-afternoon storms will force a suspension or abandonment, while the lightning-specific procedures set out a clear process if local authorities require people to shelter during the event.
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