F1 is back after a five-week break with the 2026 Miami Grand Prix this weekend and Express Sport brings you all you need to know...

The weekend follows the Sprint Format, meaning competitive action starts early on Friday. All times BST.

• Friday, May 1:

  
  
  
  

  • FP1: 5pm-6pm

  
  

  • Sprint Qualifying: 9.30pm-10.14pm

  
  



• Saturday, May 2:

  
  
  
  

  • Sprint Race: 5pm-6pm

  
  

  • Grand Prix Qualifying: 9pm-10pm

  
  



• Sunday, May 3:

  
  
  
  

  • Grand Prix: 9pm

  
  

• UK TV channel: Every session is live on Sky Sports F1. If you already have a Sky box (Sky Q, Sky Stream, or Sky Glass), you can add the F1 channel specifically or the full sports package. Fans can also purchase access via NowTV for 24 hours or a full month.




• Highlights: For those without Sky Sports, free-to-air highlights will be available on Channel 4 (usually late evening on Saturday and Sunday).




• Venue: Miami International Autodrome, a 5.41km temporary circuit circling the Hard Rock Stadium.

• Friday and Saturday: Oppressively hot and dry. Ambient temperatures are expected to hit 34°C with track temperatures potentially exceeding 55°C, putting massive strain on cooling and rear tyres.




• Sunday: Slightly cooler but more unpredictable. There is a 40% chance of rain, with local late-afternoon storms forecast to potentially hit mid-race.

• Championship leader: Rookie sensation Andrea Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) leads the pack with 72 points after a dominant start to 2026.




• Championship top three:




• Kimi Antonelli (72 pts)




• George Russell (63 pts)




• Charles Leclerc (49 pts)




• Five-week break explained: The unusual five-week gap between the Japanese Grand Prix and this weekend's Miami Grand Prix was an unplanned 'spring break' caused by geopolitical events. The Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix were originally scheduled for mid-April but were cancelled due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.




• A new championship? Unlike the mandatory summer break, there was no factory shutdown. Teams have spent the last month working in wind tunnels to fix issues with the new-for-2026 regulations. Ferrari and McLaren have used this time to bring "completely new" car upgrades to Miami, while Red Bull have been working to resolve the handling issues that leave them sixth in the standings.