FIA Announces Key Miami Grand Prix Schedule Change After Early Season Race Cancellations
Formula 1 is preparing to return to action at the 2026 Miami Grand Prix, but the weekend will feature an important adjustment after the FIA confirmed a major schedule change following the cancellation of two early-season races.
The 2026 campaign was originally expected to have a busy start, with both the Bahrain Grand Prix and the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix scheduled for April. However, both events were called off unexpectedly, leaving a large gap in the calendar and forcing teams, drivers, and fans to wait longer for the next round of racing.
As a result, the Miami Grand Prix will now be the first race weekend after the extended break, and the FIA has decided to make changes to help teams prepare more effectively.
Officials have announced that Friday’s Free Practice 1 session at the Miami International Autodrome will be extended from the standard 60 minutes to 90 minutes. The additional half-hour is designed to give teams more time to collect data, test new upgrades, and improve car setup before the sprint weekend begins.
Since Miami is one of the sprint weekends on the 2026 Formula 1 calendar, teams only get one practice session before competitive sessions start with Sprint Qualifying later on Friday. This limited preparation time has often created difficulties, especially when teams arrive with major upgrades or face changing weather conditions.
This season, that extra practice time could be even more valuable because several top teams are expected to introduce significant performance upgrades in Miami.
Ferrari is among the teams believed to be bringing a fresh development package as they continue chasing the front-runners in the championship. Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc have both produced strong results so far this year, helping Ferrari remain one of Red Bull’s biggest rivals in the constructors’ standings.
Hamilton, after making his high-profile move to Ferrari, is still settling into his new environment, but the seven-time world champion has already shown strong pace and promising performances. The extended practice session could be a major advantage as Ferrari works to improve its 2026 car further.
Red Bull, however, remain the team to beat. Max Verstappen continues to lead their title challenge, and recent upgrades spotted during a filming day at Silverstone suggest the reigning champions are still pushing hard to stay ahead.
Mercedes are also expected to test new parts during the Miami weekend, while McLaren and Aston Martin continue searching for ways to reduce the gap to the leading teams.
Across the paddock, teams have welcomed the extra practice time. Engineers will benefit from more laps to study tyre wear, aerodynamic balance, and cooling performance in Miami’s hot and humid conditions.
The Miami International Autodrome, built around Hard Rock Stadium, has quickly become one of Formula 1’s most talked-about venues since joining the calendar. Its fast straights, technical corners, and often unpredictable weather make it one of the more challenging and entertaining circuits on the schedule.
This year’s race weekend is expected to attract even more attention because it marks Formula 1’s return after several weeks without racing. Fans are eager to see whether Ferrari can close the gap to Red Bull, whether Verstappen can continue his dominance, and whether any midfield teams can surprise the front-runners.
The race weekend will begin on Friday, May 1, with the longer 90-minute Free Practice 1 session before Sprint Qualifying later that day. Saturday will feature the Sprint Race followed by Grand Prix Qualifying, while the main race will take place on Sunday, May 3.
The FIA’s decision is being seen as a sensible solution to an unusual start to the season rather than a long-term change to the format. By giving teams more preparation time, officials hope to deliver stronger competition and better racing in Miami.
With the championship battle still developing and multiple teams preparing major upgrades, the Miami Grand Prix could become one of the most decisive weekends of the season so far.
After a long break, Formula 1 is finally set to return—and Miami may provide the first real sign of which teams are ready to fight for the 2026 world title.