FIA Extends Miami GP Free‑Practice Session to 90 Minutes

The FIA has lengthened the sole free‑practice slot at the Miami Grand Prix from one hour to 90 minutes, shifting the entire weekend timetable forward by 30 minutes. The change comes as the Florida event runs a sprint format and as teams adjust to the new 2026 technical regulations.

Why it matters

A sprint weekend eliminates FP2 and FP3, leaving drivers with only one on‑track window to fine‑tune the car. The added thirty minutes give engineers crucial data on the 2026 aero and power‑unit updates, helping them set up the car for qualifying and the race. Without it, teams risk arriving at sprint qualifying with limited grip and balance information, which could ripple through the championship.

The details

• New timing: FP1 now runs 12:00 – 13:30 local (17:00 UK, 18:00 CET).
• Shifted sessions: All track activities scheduled before FP1 – shakedown, tyre warm‑up, parc fermé – have also moved forward 30 minutes.
• Regulation context: The extension reflects the FIA’s response to stakeholder feedback on the 2026 rule changes, which introduce tighter aerodynamic limits and revised power‑unit specifications.
• Sprint constraints: With FP2 and FP3 removed, the extended FP1 becomes the sole opportunity for on‑track setup work before the sprint qualifying shoot‑out.
• Strategic intent: The governing body cited the “gap since the last Grand Prix” and the need to give teams “sufficient time to get up to speed” with the refined rules.

What's next

Teams will use the extra half‑hour to gather baseline data on the new aero packages and power‑unit behavior at the street circuit. Drivers will have more seat‑time to adapt to Miami’s high‑speed corners before the sprint shoot‑out, potentially narrowing the performance gap that sprint weekends traditionally create. The FIA may monitor the impact of the longer FP1 and consider similar tweaks for other sprint events later in the season.