Formula 1 introduces a change to the Miami GP schedule (schedule here): the first free practice session will be extended to 90 minutes to offer teams more time after the break and recent technical updates.
Free Practice 1 in Miami, an extra half hour for the teams
The first free practice session of the Miami Grand Prix, scheduled from May 1st to 3rd, will exceptionally last 90 minutes. The session will start at 18:30 (Italian time) and end at 20:00, resulting in a 30-minute shift for all previous activities.
The decision, communicated by the FIA, is linked to several factors: the long five-week break since the last race, recent regulatory and technical changes, and the weekend’s Sprint format, which reduces the overall time available for practice. All these elements make the extension of the Miami FP1 90 minutes session crucial.
The rest of the weekend remains unchanged
Despite the extension of free practice, the rest of the Miami weekend schedule remains unchanged. Sprint qualifying will take place on Friday at 22:30 (Italian time), followed by the Sprint race on Saturday at 18:00.
On Saturday evening, at 22:00, traditional qualifying will be held, while the Grand Prix will start on Sunday, also at 22:00. A compact schedule, typical of the Sprint format, which makes the Miami FP1 90 minutes session even more relevant as the only real moment of preparation.
Key weekend for the championship
The Miami GP represents the fourth round of the season and arrives at a delicate moment in the championship. Currently, the drivers’ standings see Kimi Antonelli in the lead, while Mercedes leads the constructors’.
In this context, having more time available on track could make the difference for teams and drivers, who are required to adapt quickly to both track conditions and technical updates. For this reason as well, the FIA’s choice to increase the duration of Free Practice 1 in Miami to 90 minutes takes on significant strategic weight for the American weekend.