After consultation between the FIA, Formula 1 and the organization of the Miami Grand Prix, it was decided to move the start of the race forward by three hours on Sunday. The reason for this is impending severe weather with heavy rain showers and thunder.
The start of the race is now not at 4:00 PM local time (7:00 PM Dutch time), but three hours earlier, at 1:00 PM local time in Miami (10:00 PM in the Netherlands). That decision was made a few hours after Max Verstappen positive qualifying on Saturdayin which he came second.
“The decision has been made to ensure that the race can be held under the best conditions, and with the safety of competitors and fans as our top priority,” a joint statement said.
According to the latest weather report, light rain will fall in Miami in the morning, with frequent lightning, gusty winds and possibly hail expected later in the afternoon and early evening. Nevertheless, there is still a chance of rain during the Formula 1 race.
Under US law, outdoor events must be halted if lightning strikes within eight miles (almost 13 kilometers) and fans must be taken to safety immediately. The event may only resume if there is no further lightning strike within 30 minutes. If there is a new lightning strike within those 30 minutes, the counting starts again.
The new time for Formula 1 has consequences for Formula 2, in which the Dutchman Laurens van Hoepen drives. That race was supposed to take place early in the afternoon, but has been moved to 9:25 a.m. local time (3:25 p.m. Dutch time). The Porsche race has been cancelled.
