Last Updated on April 24 2026, 11:30 pm
Formula 1 extends Miami practice session after disrupted schedule – Ahead of the Miami Grand Prix on 1–3 May, Formula 1 has confirmed a key rule change, with the FIA extending the only free practice session of the weekend to 90 minutes. This decision follows a prolonged break in the calendar and recent regulatory adjustments, providing teams and drivers with extra time to prepare before the competitive sessions start.
This means that drivers will have an extra 30 minutes to gather data and fine-tune their setups on the Miami street circuit. This targeted response by the FIA aims to ensure that teams are better prepared following an unusual gap between races as reported by sport.de.
Revised schedule for FP1 in Miami
The extended practice session will take place on Friday 1 May, running from 12:00 to 13:30 local time in Miami. For European audiences, this corresponds to 17:00–18:30 BST.
This replaces the originally scheduled one-hour session, which was set to begin later in the evening in Europe.
The timings of other sessions across the sprint weekend remain unchanged. Sprint qualifying will take place later on Friday, followed by the sprint race and Grand Prix qualifying on Saturday. The Miami Grand Prix itself is scheduled for Sunday evening in Europe.
The FIA has responded to the long break following race cancellations
This adjustment follows a significant interruption to the Formula 1 calendar. The planned races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia were cancelled due to safety concerns linked to geopolitical developments, leaving a gap of several weeks between events.
Consequently, the last race before Miami took place at the end of March, resulting in one of the longest in-season breaks in recent years.
The FIA’s decision to extend practice time is intended to offset the lack of recent track running. With limited opportunities to test under the current regulations, teams rely heavily on race weekends to validate upgrades and understand how the cars behave.
Teams use downtime for development and testing
During the unexpected break, teams focused on addressing weaknesses identified in the opening races of the season. While engineers worked on car development, drivers split their time between simulator work, private testing and short breaks.
Some drivers also explored opportunities outside of Formula 1. For example, Max Verstappen returned to the Nürburgring to drive a GT3 car, gaining additional track time in a different racing environment.
This variety of preparation demonstrates how teams adapted to the unusual pause, but also highlights the need for a more structured approach once the championship resumes.
Rule changes target energy management and safety concerns
Alongside the schedule adjustment, the FIA has introduced updates to the technical regulations aimed at improving racing conditions.
One of the key areas addressed is energy management in the hybrid power units. Earlier in the season, drivers expressed concerns about having to manage battery deployment excessively during laps, which affected the quality of the race.
Under the revised approach, drivers will face less pressure to prioritise battery charging, enabling them to deliver more consistent performances and make fewer compromises in wheel-to-wheel battles.
Additionally, new safety measures have been implemented to reduce the risk of rear-end collisions. Incidents in the opening races highlighted the dangers posed by the difference in speed between cars with fully charged batteries and those with lower energy levels.
These adjustments are intended to make racing safer and more predictable, particularly at the start of races and during close on-track battles.
Why the Miami change matters
With limited testing opportunities and evolving regulations, every minute of track time is critical. The extra 30 minutes in Miami could significantly impact how teams approach the weekend, especially in the sprint format where practice time is already limited.
Ultimately, this change provides a practical solution to recent disruptions, supporting teams, drivers and fans as the championship resumes under revised conditions.
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A senior writer at TJ13, C.J. Alderson serves as Senior Editor and newsroom coordinator, with a background in online sports reporting and motorsport magazine editing. Alderson’s professional training in media studies and experience managing content teams ensures TJ13 maintains consistency of voice and credibility. During race weekends, Alderson acts as desk lead, directing contributors and smoothing breaking stories for publication.
