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The wait is finally over! After an extended hiatus following the unfortunate cancellations of the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix, Formula 1 is crossing the Atlantic to resume its 2026 championship campaign. The destination? The vibrant, star-studded streets of South Florida for the Miami Grand Prix.
Set around the iconic Hard Rock Stadium, home of the Miami Dolphins, this 5.412-kilometre, 19-corner temporary street circuit is ready to put the grid back to the test over 57 blistering laps. Here is everything you need to know ahead of the first American race of the season, straight from the latest Pirelli data.
To tackle the three long straights and technical infield of the Miami International Autodrome, Pirelli is bringing the softest rubber in their arsenal: the C3 (White Hard), C4 (Yellow Medium), and C5 (Red Soft).
What does this mean for the race? The Miami asphalt, freshly resurfaced back in 2023, boasts a very low level of abrasion (rated 2/5 by Pirelli) but offers massive track evolution (5/5) as the weekend progresses.
Because tyre degradation is historically limited here, race strategy tends to be relatively straightforward. Expect to see drivers extending their stints to execute a one-stop strategy. However, Miami's notoriously unpredictable weather could throw a massive wrench into those plans. Last year, we saw just how incredibly fast this circuit dries out; during the Sprint, drivers successfully switched from intermediates to slicks within a mere 19 laps despite a pre-race deluge!
Add in the ever-present threat of safety cars on a tight street circuit, and the pit walls will need to stay on their toes.
Last year's race was a strategic chess match won by McLaren's Oscar Piastri. The grid split their starting tyre choices between Mediums and Hards to keep their options open. Looking at the 2025 data, the one-stop was king:
Percentage of Laps by Compound: 56% Hard / 44% Medium
Average Stint Length: 29.7 laps (Hard) / 24.3 laps (Medium)
Historically, this track has been a battleground between Red Bull and McLaren. In the four editions held so far, Max Verstappen has claimed victory twice. However, McLaren has locked down the top step for the last two years, with Lando Norris taking his maiden win here in 2024 and Piastri following suit in 2025.
Interestingly, neither Papaya driver has ever managed to put their car on pole in Miami. Verstappen holds two pole positions, with the other two belonging to Charles Leclerc and Sergio Perez.
The F1 grid isn't the only show in town. Miami will be a fully-fledged festival of motorsport under the Pirelli banner:
Miami also kicks off the 2026 Pirelli Hot Laps programme. VIPs and lucky guests will get to ride shotgun in road-going supercars driven by professional racers. With seven manufacturers participating this year (Alpine, Aston Martin, Audi, Ferrari, Ford, McLaren, and Mercedes AMG), it's guaranteed to be a thrill. To put it in perspective, last year saw 69 different drivers complete over 2,500 hot laps across the season!
He’s a software engineer with a deep passion for Formula 1 and motorsport. He co-founded Formula Live Pulse to make live telemetry and race insights accessible, visual, and easy to follow.
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