FIA Extends Miami GP Free Practice to 90 Minutes; Brown Predicts Verstappen Could Move to Mercedes

The FIA confirmed Tuesday that the sole free‑practice session at the Miami Grand Prix will be stretched from 60 to 90 minutes. The extra half‑hour is intended to give teams a broader window to refine aerodynamics, tyre management and fuel loads on the high‑speed street layout. In a separate interview, McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown said Max Verstappen’s most logical next step, should he exit Red Bull, would be a swap to Mercedes.

Why it matters:

The added thirty minutes gives teams—especially those still adapting to Miami’s unique demands—a chance to collect more data, which could tighten qualifying spreads and bring the midfield closer to the front‑runners. Brown’s comment on Verstappen fuels speculation about a blockbuster driver swap that would instantly tilt the competitive balance and elevate Mercedes’ title prospects.

The details:

• Practice extension: The FIA will run a 90‑minute free‑practice session at Miami, up from 60 minutes.
• Why the change: Officials say Miami’s street circuit is “complex” and needs more track time for set‑up work, which should help midfield teams narrow the gap to the front‑runners.
• Brown’s Verstappen forecast: McLaren CEO Zak Brown told reporters that if Verstappen ever leaves Red Bull, “Mercedes is the most likely destination,” citing the driver’s style and the German team’s technical direction.
• Broader context: Brown also warned that co‑ownership deals, like Mercedes’ minority stake in Alpine, could destabilise the sport’s competitive balance.

What's next:

Miami’s race weekend starts on May 5; teams will gauge whether the extra 30 minutes squeezes the field tighter. In the driver market, any Mercedes interest in Verstappen would likely surface during the upcoming budget‑cap talks, making Brown’s remark a key early signal.