The Miami Grand Prix has been rescheduled to start three hours earlier than originally planned due to forecasts of severe thunderstorms. The race will now begin at 18:00 BST (13:00 local time) on Sunday.
F1 and the FIA announced the decision on Saturday evening, citing predictions of heavier rainstorms later in the afternoon near the original start time. The statement explained that the change aims to minimize disruption and provide the best window to complete the race safely for drivers, fans, teams, and staff.
Drivers are bracing for a challenging wet race. Lando Norris, who qualified fourth, noted that most drivers have not yet experienced the 2026 cars in wet conditions due to the sport's biggest rule change. The new engines feature substantial electrical power, which teams have struggled to deploy predictably, raising the potential for "a bit more chaos," as Norris put it.
"I don't know how wet it's going to be," Norris said. "It's going to be a big challenge on race day for everyone to perform, find the limit. Obviously, you can't afford to make any mistakes. We're thrown in the deep end, but that's what we're here to do. I look forward to it."
Oscar Piastri, Norris's McLaren teammate, added: "It's obviously going to be a voyage into the unknown for everybody. When it rains here, it normally is pretty torrential, so it could be an interesting day."
The revised timing aims to complete the race before the worst weather arrives, forecast for around 15:00 local time. While the race is still likely to be wet, organizers hope conditions will be acceptable for running the cars. F1 cars can race in rain, but visibility is severely limited by spray, and aquaplaning becomes a risk if standing water builds up.