FIA, F1 And Miami Promoter Move Miami Grand Prix Start Time Earlier Amid Storm Forecast

Formula 1 moved the start of Sunday’s Miami Grand Prix three hours earlier after discussions between the FIA, F1 and the Miami promoter, with the race now scheduled to begin at 13:00 local time in Miami.

The original plan had the fifth edition starting at 1600 local time, but the joint decision was announced as “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,” according to a statement quoted by Reuters and repeated across multiple outlets.

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The same statement said, “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 drivers, fans, teams and staff.”

Forbes also reported the start time change from 4 p.m. local time to 1 p.m. local time, citing thunderstorms and rain threats and the risk of lightning around the originally scheduled window.

PlanetF1 likewise confirmed the new start time at 1pm local time and described the decision as a joint statement from the FIA, Formula One Management, and Miami Grand Prix.

Motorsport coverage tied the change to the Miami International Autodrome and the Hard Rock Stadium complex, noting the weekend continues at the circuit built around the Hard Rock Stadium complex.

The Miami GP start time was also described in UK terms as 6pm, with Sky Sports saying the race had been moved three hours earlier to 6pm UK time.

Across reports, the consistent theme was that the schedule adjustment was meant to preserve a “maximum possible window” to complete the race under safer conditions.

Multiple reports linked the earlier start to specific weather hazards expected around the Hard Rock Stadium area, including heavy rain, thunderstorms, lightning and hail.

RacingNews365 said the National Weather Service in Miami warned of “heavy rain and thunderstorms for Miami Grand Prix race day throughout the week,” and described a “good chance of thunder, lightning and hail” with significant rainfall throughout the day.

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Forbes added that heavy rainstorms were forecast to hit the track Sunday afternoon along with a risk of lightning around the originally scheduled race start time, and it described Florida guidance that outdoor events are advised to be suspended as soon as thunder is heard.

Forbes also quoted the National Weather Service’s “30-30 rule,” stating that if the time between seeing lightning and hearing thunder is less than 30 seconds, the storm is close enough to be dangerous, and it advised waiting at least 30 minutes before leaving shelter.

The same Forbes report said “lightning is the number one weather-related killer in Florida,” claiming more lives than all other weather sources combined, and it said the state ranks highest in the United States for lightning deaths, injuries and casualties.

PlanetF1 described the 30-30 rule as a general guideline and said it equates to around 6 miles, then advised shelter in place for 30 minutes, resetting with any subsequent lightning strike.

The Race reported that decision-makers agreed bringing the start forward was “the most pragmatic option as the risk of disruption was so high,” and it described an FIA official forecast predicting “frequent lightning, brief wind gusts from 50-70km/h, and perhaps small hail.”

Autoweek described additional storm procedures, saying mandatory evacuations of grandstands and exposed areas would occur if sustained lightning was detected within an eight-mile radius, and that there would be no option but to suspend on-track proceedings for at least half an hour until the lightning has cleared.

While the schedule change dominated the announcements, the start time shift also arrived alongside confirmed front-row positions for Sunday’s race.

Reuters reported that Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli will start on pole position for Sunday’s Grand Prix with Red Bull’s Max Verstappen completing the front row.

Sky Sports similarly said world championship leader Kimi Antonelli claimed pole position for Mercedes on Saturday after seeing off the challenge of a resurgent Max Verstappen, who took second for Red Bull.

Sky Sports added that “Lando Norris leading a one-two from team-mate Oscar Piastri” had dominated the Sprint events, and it said Verstappen’s front-row start represented a turnaround in form.

Motorsport.com’s preview also described the grid after Saturday’s sprint and qualifying sessions, saying “Kimi Antonelli and Max Verstappen sharing the front row,” and it listed Charles Leclerc and Lando Norris completing the second row.

The Race said the Miami GP start time was brought forward after a meeting on Saturday evening and after an “extremely hot sprint race and qualifying day,” with air temperatures of up to 34C, and it said Sunday could have two rounds of rain showers and thunderstorms.

Sky Sports described Antonelli as hoping to avoid “crazy conditions” but being open to a rolling start if conditions are wet, and it quoted Antonelli saying, “If it's a rolling start, definitely it will take that (standing start) element out of the way, but let's see.”

Across these accounts, the same weather-driven start time change was paired with a clear competitive picture at the front of the grid.

The start time change did not only affect the main race, but also triggered adjustments to the support programme and other event timing.

PlanetF1 reported that “the Formula 2 Feature race will also start earlier,” and it quoted a statement saying, “The Formation Lap will now start at 09.25am, local time.”

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The Race described the support race programme as “heavily adjusted to make space,” saying the Porsche Carrera Cup North America was cancelled and that the McLaren Trophy America moved up to an 8am local time start, while Formula 2’s feature race was at 9.25am local time.

Miami Herald reported that the Formula 2 race is scheduled for 9:25 a.m., and it said lightning was in the stadium area around 7:30 a.m., possibly pushing that start time around, while also saying a shelter in place warning rang around the facility for the next half hour.

Miami Herald also said the McLaren Trophy America and the Porsche Carrera Cup North America races were cancelled.

Crash.net described that there were two support races scheduled for Sunday—a Porsche Supercup race and a Formula 2 race—and said F1 would take priority, which could lead to the Porsche Supercup race being cancelled and the F2 race brought forwards to provide flexibility.

Sky Sports said the race had been moved to 6pm UK time and referenced the “57-lap contest,” while also tying the change to the threat of thunderstorms.

Taken together, the reports show that the storm threat reshaped the entire Sunday running order, not just the lights-out moment.

Beyond moving the start, the sources also laid out how officials would handle lightning and wet conditions if storms arrived during the event window.

The Race said if thunderstorms still materialise around the new grand prix start time, the event can continue “but there will be guidance in place to manage lightning threats, and suspend the race if necessary.”

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Crash.net described that if the grand prix be delayed or red-flagged due to lightning, the restart would not be able to take place before there had been 30 minutes since the last clap of thunder or lightning strike.

Crash.net also quoted FIA procedures, including that “The race will be suspended in accordance with Article 57 of the Sporting Regulations, all cars must return to the pitlane and stop in the fast lane as described in Article 57.2.”

It added that once all cars have returned to the pitlane, teams would be informed using the official messaging system that cars must be pushed from the fast lane and returned to the teams’ garages, and it said garage doors must remain open until otherwise instructed.

The same Crash.net report included further operational detail, stating that “Once the Race Director is satisfied it is safe to resume the race, and no less than 18 minutes prior to the expected re-start time, the re-start order will be published.”

PlanetF1 described a Rain Hazard being declared by the FIA for Sunday and said the official weather service forecasting a probability of rain greater than 40 percent during the current schedule.

Together, the sources show a combination of pre-race scheduling, lightning timing rules, and detailed race-control procedures designed to keep the event within safety constraints.