Argomenti trattati
The Miami Grand Prix returns as a Sprint weekend and sits as the fourth round of the 2026 world championship, staged across Friday to Sunday, May 1 to May 3. Teams come back from a long break with upgrades and fresh data, and the championship picture is shifting — notably Mercedes and their rising prospect who leads the standings after the last round at Suzuka. This preview covers the timetable, broadcast choices, the unique street-circuit setting and the procedural tweaks introduced this season.
On-track action begins with an extended Free Practice 1 on Friday, May 1, starting at 12:00 local time and running for 90 minutes before the evening’s Sprint qualifying session at 16:30. The Sprint takes place on Saturday at 12:00, followed by Sunday’s late-afternoon programme: Qualifying at 16:00 and the Grand Prix itself at 16:00. Global start times are published by organisers and on official channels for viewers in different time zones.
How to watch the weekend live
The most complete live coverage worldwide is via F1 TV Pro in territories where it is available. That service delivers onboard feeds from all 22 cars, uninterrupted broadcasts and specialist pre- and post-race programming. Fans wanting higher-resolution streams can opt for F1 TV Premium, which offers 4K Ultra HD/HDR on multiple devices and a personalised Multiview with up to 26 selectable camera feeds on supported platforms. Both services are compatible with Apple TV, Chromecast (Gen 2+), Android TV, Google TV, Amazon Fire TV and Roku.
Additional viewing options and live data
Where F1 TV is not accessible, broadcasters such as Sky Sports (UK) and streaming services like NOW provide full weekend coverage, including the Sprint and race. Live timing and session widgets are also published on F1.com and the F1 app, which are essential for follow-along telemetry and strategic insight. If you plan to watch on mobile, check the official apps for onboard camera toggles and delayed highlights if you can’t catch the sessions live.
The circuit, recent winners and weather outlook
The event takes place on the Miami International Autodrome, the Hard Rock Stadium street layout that delivers long, overtaking-friendly straights and tight, wall-lined sections that punish mistakes. Oscar Piastri prevailed here last season in a thrilling finish, while Max Verstappen has recorded multiple wins at this venue in earlier years. Expect hot conditions across the weekend: forecasts indicate warm, sunny weather with air temperatures potentially reaching around 35°C, which will influence tyre wear, cooling strategies and driver stamina during the race.
Format changes, sprint specifics and F2 support
For 2026 the Sprint qualifying structure has been adjusted now that Cadillac joins the grid as an 11th team. Sprint qualifying will again use a three-part knockout format — SQ1, SQ2 and SQ3 — but the elimination rules have shifted: the six slowest cars are removed from SQ1 and SQ2 (previously five), with session durations set at 12, 10 and 8 minutes respectively. The weekend Sprint itself is a short race of approximately 100 km, and the top eight finishers score points from 8 down to 1, all of which count towards the championship.
F2 timetable and storyline
The support category F2 visits North America for the first time this season with a full programme across the Miami weekend. Free Practice is scheduled for Friday at 09:30 (45 minutes), Qualifying at 14:30, a Sprint Race on Saturday at 10:00 and the Feature Race on Sunday at 12:30. Nikola Tsolov arrives as the early points leader after his victory in Melbourne and will be one to watch as the teams tackle a new continental challenge.
Whether you are tuning in for the strategic chess of the Sprint format, the upgrade race between factories, or the spectacle of street-circuit racing under hot Florida skies, the Miami Grand Prix weekend promises a condensed, intense chapter of the 2026 season. Check official broadcasters and the F1 app for the most accurate live timings and local coverage options.