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Severe weather forecast puts Miami Grand Prix schedule in doubt with expected thunderstorms
TL;DR
Severe thunderstorms are forecasted for Sunday, putting the Miami Grand Prix schedule in jeopardy. This follows recent cancellations of races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia due to regional conflicts.
Key points
- Severe thunderstorms forecasted for Miami Grand Prix
- Recent cancellations in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia
- Teams approved new rule adjustments for F1
Photo by Reginald Mathalone/NurPhoto via Getty Images
According to reports, the Miami Grand Prix could be in doubt due to expected bad weather on Sunday.
It follows an unexpected break in the season, with the races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia called off because of conflict in the Middle East.
Teams have signed off on a set of rule adjustments after a contentious start to F1’s new era, but the debut weekend for those changes might already be facing disruption.
Miami Grand Prix faces weather concerns as race day approaches
According to sport.de, concerns are growing over the weather outlook, with strong winds and severe thunderstorms expected to roll in on Sunday. The worst of the conditions are predicted for later in the day, right around the time of the scheduled 4pm start.
The first three editions of the Miami race were run in dry conditions, but there’s no guarantee that this year will follow suit. In fact, there’s a real chance it could go off-script entirely.
If Sunday’s window looks manageable earlier in the day, there could be a push to move the race forward. Shifting to Saturday isn’t out of the question either, but that would create major scheduling issues given qualifying and a Sprint session are already planned for that day.
When was the last F1 race cancelled due to wet weather?
The 2023 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix was called off completely because of flooding in the Imola area.
In 2021, the Belgian Grand Prix was limited to just two laps behind the safety car. If Miami sees similar issues with visibility and grip, it could follow Spa’s example rather than being cancelled outright.
The 2026 cars haven’t yet raced in wet weather. As part of the pre-Miami changes, maximum energy deployment will be reduced in rain to improve car control.
Teams are also allowed to heat their tyre blankets to a higher temperature now, which should give drivers more grip at the start of wet sessions.
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Q&A
What severe weather is expected during the Miami Grand Prix?
Severe thunderstorms are forecasted for Sunday, which may disrupt the Miami Grand Prix schedule.
Why were the Bahrain and Saudi Arabia races canceled?
The races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia were called off due to conflict in the Middle East.
What rule adjustments have been made for the F1 season?
Teams have signed off on a set of rule adjustments following a contentious start to F1’s new era, but their debut weekend may now face disruption.
