FIA Extends Miami Grand Prix Practice by 30 Minutes Ahead of May 1 Qualifying
FIA adds 30 minutes to Miami Grand Prix practice before May 1 qualifying, offering teams extra track time after recent regional cancellations and rule changes.
The FIA has approved a one-time extension of the sole practice session at the Miami Grand Prix, adding 30 minutes of running to the schedule ahead of qualifying on May 1. The decision to lengthen the Miami Grand Prix practice time is designed to give drivers and teams additional track time after an extended break in the calendar. PA Media reported the amendment to the session timetable and said the extra minutes will help crews adjust to recent regulatory changes affecting energy recovery and boost power.
FIA grants extra track time to address calendar disruption
The extra 30 minutes will be applied to the only scheduled practice session for the Miami weekend, giving teams a valuable window to run longer programmes than originally planned. Officials said the move follows requests from teams and a review of recent adjustments to the technical regulations. The added time aims to reduce competitive imbalance that could arise from the prolonged gap between events.
Teams return after the March 29 Japanese Grand Prix
The Miami weekend marks Formula 1’s first event since the Japanese Grand Prix on March 29, a gap created when the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix were cancelled. That break left teams with limited recent track mileage under the current regulations and car configurations. Organisers and the FIA agreed the extended Miami Grand Prix practice will help teams reacquaint with setups and data collection under race conditions.
Cancellations in the Middle East prompted schedule changes
Race cancellations in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, attributed to the security situation in the Middle East, forced a revision of the early-season calendar and left a longer-than-expected interval before Miami. The disruption intensified calls from teams for more on-track time to ensure safety and performance standards are upheld. By extending the Miami Grand Prix practice session, the sport’s governing body seeks to mitigate risks associated with a compressed preparation period.
Recent rule changes on energy recovery and boost power explained
This week the FIA introduced technical clarifications and limits relating to power unit energy recovery and the maximum power available from the boost function. Teams must adapt software maps and electrical deployment strategies to comply with the updated energy-recovery parameters and boost ceilings. The extra practice minutes in Miami give engineers an opportunity to validate changes on-track and to fine-tune energy deployment for qualifying and race trim.
Teams will prioritise setup, systems checks and qualifying runs
With the extended Miami Grand Prix practice, teams are expected to allocate additional time to long-run aero and tyre evaluations as well as calibration of hybrid systems. Drivers will use the extra laps to refine braking points, balance and deployment strategies for the boost function under the new rules. Engineers will also gather telemetry to assess reliability margins and to prepare bespoke qualifying simulations for May 1.
The tweak to the session schedule comes as teams prepare for a condensed run of races following Miami, making efficient use of every minute of track time essential. Teams that quickly interpret the rule adjustments and maximise the extended Miami Grand Prix practice are likely to enter qualifying with clearer performance windows.
Looking ahead, the extended practice session will be closely watched by teams, drivers and fans as a test of how quickly the paddock can adapt to both calendar disruptions and technical rule changes. The FIA’s decision underscores the governing body’s intent to preserve competitive fairness and safety as the season resumes in Florida.
