2026 Miami Grand Prix Moved As Race Threatened By Lightning Storms

Sunday’s Miami Grand Prix is no longer a 4 p.m. race.

The race will now start at 1:00 p.m. ET, three hours earlier than originally planned, due to the threat of thunderstorms rolling into southern Florida.

The FIA’s own weather report sets out a fairly unwelcome picture.

A front is forecast to stall across southern Florida and linger through Sunday, with showers and embedded thunderstorms arriving in two rounds – the first overnight into early morning, with a lull possible around midday, and a second, more intense wave building through late afternoon and into the evening.

That second wave is the problem.

Afternoon and evening storms are expected to bring “frequent lightning, brief wind gusts from 50-70km/h, and perhaps small hail.”

Why Lightning Rules the Decision

Florida law is unambiguous on this.

The series had to comply with the ’30-30′ lightning safety guideline, which requires that if lightning is detected within 10 miles of the venue, all personnel must immediately seek shelter for at least 30 minutes after any strike – a scenario that would force the race to sit under red flag conditions for the entire original window.

Running a 57-lap grand prix under that sword was never a realistic option.

The FIA, Formula 1, and the Miami promoter confirmed the change in a joint statement: “Following discussions between FIA, F1 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 , fans, teams and staff.”