FIA Extends Miami GP Practice Session to 90 Minutes

The FIA has extended the opening practice at the Miami Grand Prix to 90 minutes as the championship returns from a five‑week break. The change aims to give teams extra track time ahead of the sprint‑format weekend. All other schedule items stay as planned.

Why it matters:

• Longer practice helps teams fine‑tune setups after a long hiatus.
• Gives drivers extra seat time to adapt to 2024 technical updates, like revised floor dimensions and aero restrictions.
• Offsets reduced on‑track time in the sprint format, preserving balance.

The details:

• Free Practice 1 (FP1) will run from 12:00‑13:30 local time on Friday, up from the usual 60‑minute slot.
• All preceding track activities – paddock entry, track walk and car checks – are moved 30 minutes earlier.
• Sprint Qualifying remains at 16:30 on Friday, followed by the Sprint race at 12:00 on Saturday.
• Grand Prix qualifying is set for 16:00 on Sunday, with the race starting at 16:00 the same day.
• The FIA cited three reasons: the five‑week gap, recent technical changes, and the sprint format’s limited practice time.

What's next:

• Teams will use the extra 30 minutes to lock down tyre strategies and aerodynamic tweaks before sprint qualifying.
• Expect a tighter battle in the sprint knockout, as drivers have more data to extract performance from the new floor and rear‑wing rules.
• The extended FP1 could set the tone for the weekend, influencing both the sprint outcome and the Sunday Grand Prix grid.