Formula 1 Miami GP 2026: full weekend timetable, session times and key details

Formula 1 Miami GP 2026: full weekend timetable, session times and key details. Full TV schedule for the 2026 Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix.

Some fans crossed the days off their calendars one by one. Others opted for an almost inexplicable countdown, given the unusual timing of this long break. And then there were those who tried to distract themselves with other things. Now, however, all of that can finally be put aside: Formula 1 is back, returning after a five-week hiatus caused by the cancellation of the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix.

A break that, as we have previously explained, was only real for the fans. The teams, in fact, continued to follow their development plans and even took advantage of the extra time available to fine-tune their packages, prepare their personnel for the next phase of the season, and finalize the upgrade packages expected to debut this weekend.

The roar of the hybrid V6 engines is ready to echo once again, this time over Florida, for the Miami Grand Prix. Finally, we might add — and you would probably agree. The atmosphere is electric, expectations are sky-high. By now, we know that the cars taking to the streets of the south-east United States will be very, very different from those that completed the final lap in Suzuka.

For this reason alone, attention will be intense. Mercedes returns — unsurprisingly — as the clear favorite after winning the opening three races of the season. Andrea Kimi Antonelli is ready to continue from where he left off, having secured two consecutive victories. But both he and the paddock know that George Russell is a driver with immense talent, fully capable of fighting back.

Yet, it is behind the Silver Arrows where anticipation is building the most. And that is understandable. Almost everyone — except the Brackley team’s own supporters — is hoping for a tighter battle at the front. Many expect Ferrari not only to confirm itself as the second force, but perhaps to close the gap to the W17 and apply more sustained pressure, staying in contention for victories for longer. The same applies to McLaren, which is set to arrive with a heavily revised MCL40, featuring significant changes in both design and weight. Not to mention the RB22 and a Max Verstappen who will be hoping, deep down, to mount a comeback similar to the one seen in 2025, albeit with a different outcome this time.

There is also strong interest in the midfield battle. Alpine has so far appeared to be the fifth-fastest team, but the impression is that the competitive order could have shifted here as well. By how much? Only the track will provide the answer. In this regard, two key factors must not be overlooked. The first concerns the weekend format: the Sprint format returns, featuring just one free practice session followed immediately by Sprint Qualifying.

In that context, the only practice session available to teams for on-track preparation has been extended by 30 minutes. The recent regulatory changes agreed upon by Formula 1, the teams, and the FIA will require an adaptation period, and that process will begin right here in Miami. In short, all the ingredients are in place for a crucial and potentially decisive race weekend. How exciting it will be remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: there will be no shortage of compelling storylines.