Miami Grand Prix Faces Delay Risk as F1 Tv Watches Thunderstorms
f1 tv is facing a Sunday schedule test in Miami, where heavy thunderstorms could stop Formula 1 from getting the full Grand Prix distance run at 4 p.m. Eastern time. Rain and storms are forecast for most of the day around Hard Rock Stadium, and that puts the race start, Sunday support events and the finish line itself under pressure.
Hard Rock Stadium Weather Threat
The Miami race is set to begin at 4 p.m. Eastern time, but Florida outdoor events often have to stop as soon as thunder is heard and wait 30 minutes after the last clap of thunder or lightning strike before resuming. That 30-minute clock restarts if lightning returns, which could force repeated pauses if storms linger around the circuit.
Formula 1 also has to work against sunset, which comes at 7:52 p.m. in Miami. If the race is delayed or stopped because of nearby lightning, the FIA cannot issue a restart order until there have been 30 uninterrupted minutes without a strike in the same area, leaving a narrow window to complete the event in daylight.
Porsche Supercup And F2
The Sunday support schedule sits in the same weather window. The Porsche Supercup race could be cancelled, while the Formula 2 race could be moved forward to give F1 a chance at an earlier Grand Prix start.
That would be a direct change for the race build-up at Hard Rock Stadium, where the weekend order matters if storms tighten the timetable. Multiple senior paddock sources have said there have been no discussions about running the race on Monday, so the focus remains on finding room on Sunday.
George Russell And Wet Running
The FIA is expected to give the race as much leeway for delays as possible if heavy rain or thunder arrives on Sunday, with an update on grand prix timings due on Saturday afternoon. In wet conditions, the battery boost mode must be disabled under F1 regulations, software-driven power deployment is capped at 250 kilowatts, and the straightline mode for the movable aerodynamic devices at the front and rear of the car is revised slightly.
George Russell has been part of the broader driver discussions around changes in FIA talks, while Pierre Gasly has spoken about how extreme wet running can become. Earlier this year at a shakedown event at Silverstone, he said, "It was 30 degrees tire temperature, wheelspinning in sixth gear," and added, "After Maggotts, Becketts [corners] -- underwear change every lap! It was the most extreme I've ever done in my life."
If thunderstorms hit Miami on Sunday, the practical issue is simple: the opening timetable may move, the Porsche Supercup race may disappear, and Formula 2 may have to make way before F1 can even try to get the Grand Prix started.
