The F1 circus resumes in Miami this weekend (Image: Getty) This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more
Following rule changes and a five-week hiatus, there could be some surprises when the 2026 F1 season resumes in Miami. Following a summit between F1, its governing body, the FIA and team principals, tweaks have been made to the recently introduced regulations.
It is hoped the changes will reduce the need for drivers to manage their cars’ battery levels, especially during qualifying, and lessen the chances of crashes caused by dramatic speed offsets between cars, as seen at the Japanese Grand Prix, where Ollie Bearman had a huge off in trying to avoid the Alpine of Franco Colapinto. Teams will also have used the break to add upgrades, potentially shaking up the competitive order, which has been led by Mercedes so far. However, this weekend’s action, which will feature the second sprint race of the season, may struggle to top last year’s Miami Grand Prix in terms of wildness.
Race cancelled
The blazing sunshine you normally associate with the Florida coast was absent for much of the weekend in 2025. There were several heavy downpours, including one affecting the F1 sprint race.
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Charles Leclerc didn’t even make the start after aquaplaning and hitting the wall on his reconnaissance lap. The sprint started on a soaked track before drying, prompting drama in the pit lane with late-race tyre changes.
The main race day was marked by more torrential rain, leading to the cancellation of the F1 Academy race. A formation lap was run behind the safety car, only for drivers to encounter visibility and grip issues, while others slid off the circuit. After being postponed, the race was ultimately shelved. Thankfully, conditions improved for the F1 Grand Prix, which went ahead as planned, with Oscar Piastri taking victory.
One of the F1 Academy races was cancelled amid pouring rain (Image: Getty)Driver sacked
The Miami Grand Prix proved to be Jack Doohan’s last for Alpine, as he was replaced by Colapinto. The F1 rookie’s future has been in doubt since the Argentine signed for Alpine from Williams as a reserve driver over the winter.
The Australian actually out-qualified teammate Pierre Gasly for the first time in Miami, only to be involved in a first-corner collision that ended his race seconds after lights out. He had also suffered heavy crashes in the season opener in Australia and during practice in Japan.
However, there were questions over whether Colapinto was an upgrade or had benefited from the team striking commercial deals with companies in his homeland. A year on, he remains in the car, while Doohan is now a reserve driver for Haas.
Jack Doohan lost his drive straight after the Miami Grand Prix (Image: Getty)Pundit angers fans
There was controversy off the track, with fans taking to social media to call for Sky Sports to drop American pundit Danica Patrick. The motorsport trailblazer, who raced in IndyCar and NASCAR, polarised viewers with some of her views, with some accusing her of lacking F1 knowledge.
“Sky Sports, please please please, on the behalf of almost every F1 fan, replace Danica Patrick with another female driver, if that is the criteria,” wrote one fan on social media. Another added: “Dear Sky Sports F1, get Danica Patrick off your coverage. No-one wants to see her or hear her views. Such a turn-off.”
A third said: “I really can’t understand why Sky insist on dragging out Danica Patrick for the American races. It can’t be a diversity hire, because we have Bernie [Collins], Natalie [Pinkham] and Naomi [Schiff]. It can’t be knowledge, because she has none. It can’t be personality, because she has none.”
Patrick is seen as a controversial figure by some due to her outspoken support of Donald Trump. Having been a regular presence at the North American races in recent times, Patrick was not retained by Sky Sports for the 2026 season.