Is the F1 2025 Miami GP at risk of being cancelled? Severe thunderstorms are set to batter the Miami International Autodrome throughout on Sunday, May 4, leaving the FIA with a decision to make.
Intense rain is something the governing body of racing takes very seriously due to the increased possibility of a major accident due to worsened visibility and grip conditions, which played a key role in the tragic loss of Jules Bianchi in 2015.
And with modern ground effect cars only making the visibility a greater problem due to how the diffuser and aerodynamics displace water into the air, wet events have often been cancelled.
It’s a problem that Formula 1 and Pirelli have been unable to solve, meaning that it’s simply safer to delay or cancel to protect the drivers, as well as to avoid farcical situations such as the 2021 Belgian GP.
That policy was already on show in Florida on Saturday, May 3 when the FIA mandated two formation laps before deciding to red flag the start of the Sprint Race, not too long after Charles Leclerc crashed.
Max Verstappen, known for his mastery of car control and proficiency in the rainy conditions, also had a huge lock-up too; highlighting just how challenging the weather was.
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Now the F1 2025 Miami GP could be set to be cancelled as National Weather Service Miami-South Florida reports severe weather is due to hit the region, threatening Sunday’s race.
“Scattered thunderstorms are expected today,” NWS Miami stated. “A few strong to severe storms are possible this afternoon into early evening across the Lake Region and East Coast Metro.”
Can the FIA cancel the F1 2025 Miami GP? What do the regulations say?
This puts 57-lap long event at risk, which is due to begin at 16:00 ET in Miami. Intense rain could see the FIA delay the session, and with regulations surrounding the amount of time the organisation is allowed to wait, their hand could be forced.
The FIA Sporting Regulations rule that a Grand Prix race has a maximum of two hours of actual racing outside of red flag interruptions. Additionally, the whole event must start and finish within a three-hour time period, including red flags.
This three-hour time limit begins at the scheduled time of the race (16:00 ET) if the formation lap begins behind the safety car; however, this can be adjusted due contexts such as the rain.
That means if torrential rain hits the track and renders conditions unsafe, the FIA will likely delay the start and reevaluate the conditions as they develop. If the weather worsens, they could be forced to cancel the F1 2025 Miami GP.
