Grande Prêmio of Miami of Fórmula 1 will have a modified schedule for the stage that takes place between May 1st and 3rd. Automobilismo’s Federação Internacional confirmed that the only free practice of the round will be extended to 90 minutes in length. The measure meets a direct demand from drivers and teams after the introduction of new technical guidelines in the category’s regulations.
The decision directly impacts the flow of the weekend at Flórida, as Miami operates under a sprint race format. Tradicionalmente, these steps only offer 60 minutes of preparation before the first qualifying session. With the increase in track time, all support activities, including Fórmula 2 sessions, were moved by 30 minutes in the organization’s official schedule.
Free Practice 1 at the Miami Grand Prix will be extended to 90 minutes⏱️
— Formula 1 (@F1) April 23, 2026
It's the first on-track session after the five week break in the calendar
👉 https://t.co/F2uMhddnbU #F1 #MiamiGP pic.twitter.com/NNttmQpzEs
Adaptação to the new regulations motivates extra time on the track
The extent of opening activity in Miami was not a random choice by the FIA. The main reason lies in the need for competitors to test mechanical and electronic adjustments implemented during the five-week break in the calendar. Desde o Grande Prêmio do Japão, contested in March, the category underwent intense discussions about the behavior of the 2026 power units.
The new rules focus on the safety and performance of engines, which have become highly dependent on electrical power this season. The phenomenon of “superclipping” — when the delivery of electrical power is abruptly cut at the end of straights — has generated severe criticism and has been identified as a risk factor in recent accidents. The 1h30 training session will allow engineers to calibrate energy recovery systems in real race simulation conditions.
Official Programação undergoes time changes in Miami
Para to accommodate the additional 30 minutes of Treino Livre 1, the FIA needed to rearrange Friday’s schedule. The adjustment aims to ensure that the interval between sessions remains safe for teams to work and for official broadcasting. No Brasil, fans will need to stay tuned for new start times for activities on Circuito Internacional from Miami.
The main changes to the schedule for Friday, May 1st, are below:
- Treino Livre 1 (F1): starting at 1:30 pm (Brasília time) and ending at 3:00 pm.
- Intervalo technical and inspections: from 3pm to 6pm.
- Classificação Sprint (F1): start postponed to 6pm (Brasília time).
- Sessões from Fórmula 2: brought forward by 30 minutes in the local morning.
- Atividades track prior to FP1: starts 30 minutes earlier than scheduled.
Crise on Oriente Médio and five week hiatus
Miami’s GP marks the resumption of a championship that suffered unexpected interruptions. Originalmente, the month of April would feature the stages of Bahrein and Arábia Saudita. However, geopolitical conflicts involving Irã, Israel and Estados Unidos forced the preventive cancellation of these tests. Como result, the Fórmula 1 circus has been at a standstill since the test in Suzuka, on March 29th.
Esse forced break gave room for the FIA to hold three emergency meetings with the technical directors of the ten teams. The objective was to mitigate security flaws observed at the beginning of the year. The main concern revolves around the stability of the cars in high-speed races in the rain and battery management. Miami will be the great laboratory to verify whether the corrections applied in the factories will have a practical effect on the asphalt.
Estreia from Fórmula 2 on North American soil
Além of the news in the main category, the weekend in Miami will be historic for Fórmula 2. Pela for the first time, the access category will hold an official round in América of Norte. The change is also a reflection of the crisis at Oriente Médio, which forced the relocation of the races that would take place at Bahrein and on Saudi soil to Miami and Montreal.
Para the Brazilian public, the stage gains additional importance with the presence of two young talents on the grid. Rafael Câmara and Emmo Fittipaldi will make their debuts on urban circuits on the American continent in F2. The local organization hopes that the inclusion of the base category will increase movement in the paddock, especially with curiosity about how new drivers will adapt to the challenging Miami track, known for its strong braking zones and close walls.
