F1 Miami timetable changes to be discussed amid thunderstorm threat 

Formula 1 bosses are set to meet after qualifying to discuss possible timetable changes to the Miami Grand Prix schedule amid the risk of thunderstorms.

Sunday’s fourth round of the season is due to start at 9pm UK time but the latest weather forecast indicates rain and thunderstorms could hit the area around the Hard Rock Stadium during the race.

The worst of the conditions are forecast to come around the time of the race start.

US laws dictate that sporting events must be stopped if there is thunder and lightning within a six-to-10 mile radius.

The law has caused delays and stoppages in the past at IndyCar and NASCAR races.

Crash.net understands that while no decision has been made as yet, a meeting will be held after qualifying in Miami to determine the next steps and form a contingency plan.

F1 and governing body the FIA understandably want to get the latest possible weather forecast before any action is taken.

The official forecast used by the FIA warns of potential "widespread rain showers and embedded thunderstorms" throughout Sunday afternoon in Miami.

One option would be to bring the F1 Miami Grand Prix forward, which could come at the cost of support events.

There are two support races scheduled for Sunday - a Porsche Supercup race and a Formula 2 race - but F1 would take priority.

This could lead to the Porsche Supercup race being cancelled, and the F2 race brought forwards to provide F1 with greater flexibility.

Should Sunday’s grand prix be delayed or red-flagged due to lightning, the restart would not be able to take place before there had been 30 minutes since the last clap of thunder or lightning strike.

Sunset in Miami is at 7:52pm local time, and the light and visibility will be another factor considered by the FIA.

F1 effectively has an eight-hour window to play with, if the grand prix was brought forward to noon local time. 

This is what the FIA said on its lightning protocols at last year's Miami Grand Prix. 

• The race will be suspended in accordance with Article 57 of the Sporting Regulations, all cars must return to the pitlane and stop in the fast lane as described in Article 57.2.
   
• Once all cars have returned to the pitlane, 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. 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 pitlane 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 57.3 or 57.5 respectively.
   
• Whilst the cars are in the teams’ garage the provisions of Article 57.4 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 57.4b) 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 18 minutes prior to the expected re-start time, the re-start order will be published. At such time, under the direct supervision and instruction of the FIA Technical Delegate or their representative:
   
• 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 restart order.
   
• Once all cars included in the restart order are arranged in the fast lane, any car not included in the restart 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.
   
• 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.

The FIA also added procedures for the steps that would take place if lightning hit during the start procedure: 

• The start will be delayed in accordance with Article 46 of the Sporting Regulations.
   
• Teams will be informed using the official messaging system that all cars, on the grid or at the end of the pitlane, must be pushed from their location and returned to the teams’ garages. Garage doors must remain open until otherwise instructed.
   
• 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 garage and returned to their allocated grid positions. Cars that were returned to their garage 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.
   
• 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 10 minute signal.