Miami GP officially set for earlier start due to weather threat

Formula 1 opted to take a cautious approach due to the uncertain weather conditions expected throughout Sunday, the day on which the fourth race of the season will take place after Saturday’s sprint race won by Lando Norris in what had so far been a completely dry weekend.

Local weather forecasts pointed to thunderstorms and heavy rain arriving around afternoon time, raising concerns that the scheduled race start could coincide with the worst of the conditions. Formula 1 therefore decided to bring the start time forward, with the Miami Grand Prix now set to begin three hours earlier at 13:00 local time (18:00 p.m. UK time) in an attempt to avoid the expected weather later in the day. The new start time will also have an impact on the Formula 2 schedule, with the feature race now set to get underway at 09:25 local time.

Florida’s weather safety protocols regarding lightning storms are known for being very strict. Even visible lightning in the distance, thunder or particularly threatening skies can already trigger concerns before heavy rain reaches the circuit itself. Events are often suspended automatically whenever lightning is detected within roughly an 8-mile (13-kilometre) radius of the venue.

In the case of a stoppage, activities are not allowed to resume until at least 30 minutes have passed since the last thunder was heard, as dangerous electrical activity can still remain in the clouds despite the storm seemingly moving away. The same situation led to the cancellation of an F1 Academy race in Miami last year.

Just a few hours before qualifying got underway, the FIA officially declared a ‘Rain Hazard’ status for the Miami Grand Prix after receiving forecasts from the official weather service indicating a greater than 40% chance of precipitation during the race.

The protocol was introduced this season as part of Formula 1’s new regulatory package and is designed specifically for weekends in which severe wet-weather conditions could have an impact on safety and car behaviour. Its activation also brings significant implications under parc fermé rules, an area that has historically limited teams from making setup changes between qualifying and the race itself.

Under the revised regulations, teams are now allowed to intervene on certain aspects of the car in order to better cope with wet conditions. One of the key changes concerns ride height adjustments, which can be made to reduce the risk of excessive plank wear. Changes to the front wing angle are also permitted despite parc fermé restrictions remaining in place. The new rules additionally affect the operation of active aerodynamic systems. In rain conditions, only the front aero system can still be partially activated, while the rear wing must remain closed throughout and no boost is allowed.