Miami Grand Prix start moved to 1 p.m. due to weather

Organizers have moved up the start time of Sunday’s Miami Grand Prix to 1 p.m. as storms are expected later in the afternoon, officials announced Saturday evening.

The update was shared in a social media post by Miami Grand Prix organizers.

“Schedule update: Due to anticipated weather, Sunday’s Grand Prix will begin at 1 p.m. ET,” the release said.

In a joint statement, FIA, Formula 1 and Miami Grand Prix organizers said:

“Following discussions between FIA, F1 and the Miami promoter, the decision has been taken to move the start of Sunday’s Miami Grand Prix to 1:00 p.m. local time in Miami due to the weather forecast, which is expected to bring heavier rainstorms later in the afternoon close to the original planned race start time.

This decision has been taken to ensure the least amount of disruption to the race and to provide the maximum possible window to complete the Grand Prix in the best conditions, while prioritizing the safety of drivers, fans, teams and staff.”

Tom Garfinkel, managing partner of the Miami event, also released a statement:

“While a decision like this is not made lightly, we are grateful to the FIA for prioritizing the safety of all stakeholders and making every effort to complete a successful Grand Prix. We are prepared to welcome all fans on Sunday for an exciting day at the track and have contingencies in place in the event of inclement weather, with the safety of all guests as our highest priority.”