Formula 1 has confirmed that the sole practice session at the upcoming Miami Grand Prix will be extended to 90 minutes, giving teams and drivers additional preparation time ahead of the Sprint weekend.
Free Practice 1, which takes place on Friday of the Miami event from May 1-3, will now run from 12:00 to 13:30 local time. As a result, all track activities scheduled before FP1 will be brought forward by 30 minutes.
The decision comes as the sport returns from a five-week break, with officials aiming to ensure teams are adequately prepared following recent regulation changes.
In a statement, the FIA said: “This decision has been taken in recognition of the gap since the last Grand Prix, the recently announced regulatory and technical adjustments, and the fact that, as the Miami Grand Prix operates under the Sprint format, which reduces the amount of practice time available over the course of the weekend.”
Why FP1 has been extended
The Miami Grand Prix will run under the Sprint format, which limits practice to a single session before the competitive sessions begin.
With several regulation tweaks introduced ahead of the race weekend, the extended session is designed to give teams more time to adapt their setups and understand the impact of the changes.
The five-week gap since the last race has also been a key factor, with the FIA keen to ensure teams are fully prepared when track action resumes.
Miami Grand Prix weekend schedule
Aside from the longer FP1 session, the remainder of the Miami schedule remains unchanged.
- Friday: Sprint Qualifying at 16:30 local time
- Saturday: Sprint race at 12:00, followed by Grand Prix qualifying at 16:00
- Sunday: Miami Grand Prix at 16:00
The event will host the second Sprint race of the 2026 season, adding further significance to the limited practice time available.
Championship standings heading into Miami
The Miami Grand Prix marks the fourth round of the 2026 Formula 1 season.
Mercedes heads into the weekend leading the Constructors’ Championship, while Kimi Antonelli currently tops the Drivers’ standings after a strong start to the campaign.
With additional practice now available and fresh regulation changes in play, the Miami weekend is set to provide an important early benchmark for the rest of the season.
Seen in:
