2026 F1 Miami Grand Prix Sprint Race Start Time

The second F1 Sprint of the 2026 season is set for the Miami Grand Prix this Saturday, with the 19-lap dash scheduled to start at 12:00 PM local Eastern Time (17:00 BST). This follows George Russell's victory for Mercedes in the season's opening Sprint at the Chinese Grand Prix.

Why it matters:

The Miami Sprint marks F1's return after a significant break and injects immediate competitive action into the weekend. A strong result can provide crucial momentum and championship points heading into Sunday's main event, setting an early tone for the rest of the race weekend and influencing team strategies.

The details:

• The 2026 Miami GP Sprint will be 19 laps of the Miami International Autodrome.
• Start Time: The race begins at 12:00 ET (17:00 BST) on Saturday, May 2.
• Weekend Schedule: The Sprint shapes a busy weekend schedule.
  • Friday, May 1: Free Practice 1 (18:00 - 19:30 ET), followed by Sprint Qualifying (22:30 - 23:14 ET) to set the Sprint grid.
  • Saturday, May 2: The Sprint Race (12:00 ET). Later, traditional Qualifying for Sunday's Grand Prix takes place (22:00 - 23:00 ET).
  • Sunday, May 3: The Miami Grand Prix (22:00 ET).
• This is one of six Sprint events on the 2026 calendar, with others scheduled in Canada, Britain, the Netherlands, and Singapore.

What's next:

All eyes will be on the Sprint to see which team and driver can seize the initiative for the weekend. The results will not only award points but also provide the final competitive data before teams lock in their setups for Grand Prix qualifying later on Saturday, making it a pivotal session for the entire event's outcome.