F1 Miami Grand Prix start time changed to combat thunderstorm risk

The start of the Miami Grand Prix has been moved forward by three hours amid the risk of thunderstorms potentially delaying the race. 

Sunday's fourth round of the 2026 season will now start at 1pm local time and 6pm in the UK. 

The decision to change the start time has come after discussions on Saturday evening after qualifying in Miami. 

Thunderstorms are forecast to hit the area near the Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday afternoon, which could lead to disruption. 

US law states that sporting events should stop immediately upon hearing thunder and cannot be resumed until 30 minutes after the last clap of thunder or lightning strike. 

A joint statement from FOM, F1's governing body and the Miami promoter read: "Following discussions between FIA, FOM and the Miami promoter, the decision has been taken to move the start of Sunday’s Miami Grand Prix to 13:00 local time in Miami due to the weather forecast that is expected to bring heavier rainstorms later in the afternoon close to the original planned race start time.

"This decision has been taken to ensure the least amount of disruption to the race, and to ensure the maximum possible window to complete the Grand Prix in the best conditions and to prioritise the safety of drivers, fans, teams and staff."

Several planned events have been removed from the pre-race schedule to enable the change to happen, including the cancellation of the Porsche Carrera Cup North America race. 

The Formula 2 feature race, which is second in priority only to the F1 grand prix, is still set to go ahead. 

What are F1's lightning risk procedures? 

The FIA has issued the following information regarding its lightning risk procedures: 

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: 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.
   
• 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.
   
• 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 ten (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.