Miami GP Start Time Shift Highlights First Wet Test for 2026 F1 Cars

The Miami Grand Prix on 3 May 2026 moved from 16:00 to 13:00 after the FIA, Formula 1 and the Miami promoter cited a forecast of heavy thunderstorms later in the afternoon. The earlier start expands the window for racing before rain and follows Florida’s 30-minute lightning rule.

New start time confirmed for 2026 Miami Grand Prix following weather concernsMiami GP: Start time for Sunday's race moved earlier amid threat of thunderstorms in FloridaESPN

The 2026 package drops Straight-Line and Boost modes, limiting wet power. Pirelli’s tyres are 25 mm narrower at the front (280 mm) and 30 mm narrower at the rear, with 15 mm front and 10 mm rear profile cuts.

What F1 stands to gain from a wet Miami GP

Pirelli gathered data from a wet Barcelona shakedown (Ferrari, Red Bull) and an April Fiorano test with blanket temperatures raised to 70 °C. Rain in Japan added intermediate-tyre feedback but stopped dry-compound runs. The team will evaluate the 70 °C blankets across the full grid in Miami.

What F1 stands to gain from a wet Miami GP

Front tyres are 280 mm wide; rear tyres are 30 mm narrower than last year, with 15 mm front and 10 mm rear profile cuts. Intermediates run at 70 °C; target ranges are 80-100 °C for intermediates and 90-110 °C for slicks.

What F1 stands to gain from a wet Miami GP

Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli said he was unsure what to expect in rain. Max Verstappen called the conditions “quite slippery.” Lewis Hamilton recalled a “pretty horrible” wet session in Barcelona but noted improvements after Fiorano testing. Pierre Gasly welcomed rain; Fernando Alonso warned Ferrari’s extensive wet testing could give it an edge.

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The FIA announced the start-time shift due to rain forecast. Pirelli’s brief confirmed that raising blanket temperatures to 70 °C at Fiorano improved warm-up and that Miami will test whether this resolves the tyre’s warm-up issue.

What F1 stands to gain from a wet Miami GP

Sources differ on wet-testing: Pirelli cites a two-day Fiorano session, while other reports mention only a few laps in Barcelona.

What F1 stands to gain from a wet Miami GP

Teams say wet-weather data hampers optimisation, noting the intermediate compound is too robust and slow to reach operating temperature. Non-Ferrari teams worry private testing gives Ferrari a performance edge.

What F1 stands to gain from a wet Miami GP

• “We started in Barcelona [in the January shakedown] with Ferrari and Red Bull testing on day two,” — Simone Berra, Pirelli chief engineer

What F1 stands to gain from a wet Miami GP

• “In Japan, we were unlucky in the sense that it rained both the days and we didn't have the possibility to test the dry tyres, but we had the possibility to test intermediate and wets.” — Simone Berra, Pirelli chief engineer

What F1 stands to gain from a wet Miami GP

• “I think we'll see better tomorrow what the situation is going to be like.” — Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes driver

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• “[But] if you look, they've made a change to the blanket tent for the inter[mediate tyre], which is something I suggested in a push for, and it was amazing to see them take a step.” — Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari driver

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The race starts at 13:00. Pirelli will monitor intermediate tyre temperatures and feedback, using the data to decide if blanket-temperature settings need adjustment before the next wet event, likely in Montreal.

What F1 stands to gain from a wet Miami GP