Formula One bosses have taken the unusual precaution of moving Sunday’s Miami Grand Prix forwards three hours to avoid a forecast thunderstorm washing the race away.
Instead of starting at 4pm local time in Florida, it will begin at 1pm (6pm GMT).
A statement from the FIA, Formula One and Miami Grand Prix confirmed: ‘The decision has been taken to move the start of Sunday’s Miami Grand Prix to 1pm in Miami.
‘This decision has been taken to ensure the least amount of disruption to the race, and to ensure the maximum possible window to complete the Grand Prix in the best conditions and to prioritise the safety of drivers, fans, teams and staff.’
The decision was taken between the governing FIA and Formula One Management, the sportsman owners, after qualifying on Saturday night.
The risk of thunderstorms is particularly relevant in Florida, where state law decrees that major events must be postponed or cancelled if lightning strikes.
Formula One bosses have taken the unusual precaution of moving Sunday’s Miami Grand Prix forwards three hours to avoid a forecast thunderstorm
Mercedes star Kimi Antonelli will start in pole position after an impressive display in qualifying
Should race organizers put fans’ safety first even if it disrupts the Grand Prix schedule?
With that predicted from 3pm, the race has been moved with the teams informed of the decision, which they are happy to comply with.
It would have been an acute headache for the sport had rain forced the race at the Hard Rock Stadium to be called off, not least given that the last two rounds, in Bahrain and Abu Dhabi, were cancelled owing to the conflict in the Middle East.
This is especially so as Miami is a key asset in the treasured US market so coveted by the sport’s American owners Liberty Media.
A crowd of more than 200,000 is expected over the race weekend, with the biggest numbers flocking to the arena in Miami Gardens on Sunday, when they will see Mercedes’ 19-year-old star Kimi Antonelli start from pole position, a place ahead of Red Bull’s Max Verstappen
Organisers were keen to avoid a repeat of the debacle of the Belgian Grand Prix five years ago when rain poured down relentlessly and only two laps were staged behind the safety car.
With new regulations this season having caused a differential in speed between cars as drivers charge and deploy their battery power there was also a pressing safety consideration in the rare decision to reschedule a grand prix.
Moving the race to lunchtime also grants the flexibility of a wider window to complete the action in daylight should the storm arrive earlier or later than predicted.
