Thunderstorms threaten 2026 Miami Grand Prix: what happens if lightning strikes?

Rain is threatening the 2026 Miami Grand Prix, and according to forecasting site AccuWeather—a source heavily relied upon by Formula 1 teams—there is currently an 88% chance of rain on Sunday, accompanied by a 53% chance of thunderstorms.

The threat of thunderstorms in Miami

Therefore, if a thunderstorm hits the circuit over the weekend, the race could be stopped with a red flag—even without a heavy downpour flooding the track. In such a scenario, the drivers would be forced to return to the pit lane.

Last year, the FIA issued a reminder to teams that, “under the authority granted to the stewards by articles 11.9.2.a and 11.9.3.n of the FIA international sporting code,” and in accordance with local public safety regulations, the race may be suspended due to the risk of lightning at or near the circuit, allowing all personnel to take shelter safely.

The unique US garage rule

Interestingly, there is a specific regulation that applies exclusively to the three races held in the United States: Miami, Austin, and Las Vegas. In the event of a stoppage caused by thunderstorms, teams are permitted to bring their cars into the garages and work on them during a red flag, rather than being forced to work on them outdoors in the exposed pit lane.

How a race suspension works

What exactly would happen if a thunderstorm struck Miami? The race would be suspended under Article 57 of the sporting regulations. All cars would be required to return to the pit lane and stop in the fast lane, as outlined in Article 57.2.

Once all cars have safely returned to the pit lane, teams would receive a notification via the official messaging system instructing them to push the cars from the fast lane into their respective garages. The garage doors would then remain open until further notice.

For the avoidance of doubt, any car already in the garage at the moment the race is suspended, or any car moved from the fast lane to another part of the pit lane before receiving those instructions, would be placed at the back of the queue before the restart (if the race resumes), in accordance with Articles 57.3 or 57.5, respectively.

While the cars are safely tucked away in the garages, the provisions of Article 57.4 apply. To clarify, work may be carried out on the cars once they are stopped in the fast lane, while they are in the team garages, or once they return to the fast lane before the restart of the session. However, only the specific work listed in Articles 57.4 b) i) to x) may be performed, and it must not delay the restart.

Once the race director deems it safe to resume, and at least 18 minutes before the scheduled restart, the official restart order will be published.

The restart procedure

At that point, under the strict supervision of the FIA technical delegate or their representative, each team will be instructed in turn to push their car(s) back into the fast lane so they can line up according to the published restart order.

Once all cars in the restart order are lined up in the fast lane, any car not included in that order may leave the garage and join at the back of the line, in the order in which it arrives.

Once all cars are lined up—or have been given the opportunity to join the back—the restart time will be announced through the official messaging system. In all cases, teams will be given at least ten minutes’ notice. From that point, the race would resume in accordance with Article 58 of the Sporting Regulations.

The weekend weather forecast

Located in the state of Florida, weather conditions in Miami are notoriously unpredictable and can change with very little warning, meaning heat and rain threaten to disrupt strategy throughout the weekend.

Current forecasts suggest a dry Friday for FP1 and Sprint Qualifying, followed by a dry Saturday for the Sprint Race and Qualifying. However, there remains a very real chance of thunderstorms on Sunday, the day of the main race.

For the opening day of the Miami Grand Prix, Friday’s forecast for the first practice session—the only free practice session of the weekend—and Sprint Qualifying is partly sunny, with a high of around 29°C and no risk of rain.

On Saturday, for the Sprint Race and the main qualifying session, temperatures are expected to reach 31°C, with just a 10% chance of rain and mostly sunny skies.

Sunday’s forecast points to significantly more difficult conditions. While temperatures will remain pleasant at around 28°C, there is an 88% chance of rain and a 53% chance of thunderstorms, setting the stage for a potentially dramatic and disrupted race day.