- FIA triggers emergency cooling rules for Miami as ‘heat hazard’
- Lightning storms are also forecast for the Miami area on Sunday.
- Richard Childress Racing fires Kyle Busch’s NASCAR crew chief.
Miami emergency: Heat hazards and thunderstorms
The F1 Miami Grand Prix weekend is under a dual threat as the FIA officially declares a potential “heat hazard” ahead of Friday’s sessions (free practice and sprint qualifying). New emergency measures require the teams to utilise supplementary cooling hardware in the drivers’ cockpits as temperatures at the Hard Rock Stadium are expected to hit dangerous levels.
But while the heat is the immediate threat, a ‘storm cancellation warning’ threat is also looming for Sunday. Current forecasts show a 70% probability of lightning, which would automatically ground the mandatory medical helicopter. Under FIA protocols, the race cannot start if the helicopter cannot fly, which puts the entire Grand Prix currently on a knife-edge.
Horner’s 80m countdown: May 2026
New details regarding Christian Horner’s massive £80m exit from Red Bull have clarified his future. While he has recently been seen in the MotoGP paddock, his F1 non-compete clause officially expires in May 2026.
The timing of this is significant as it aligns with the start of the European leg of the season. Speculation continues that he is a key part of a consortium to buy into Alpine. Meanwhile, Red Bull’s new leadership group is focused on stopping the ongoing departures of their technical staff. This follows the confirmed 2028 exit of Gianpiero ‘GP’ Lambiase to McLaren at the end of 2027.
Nascar: RCR axing after Talladega chaos
The ongoing pressure at Richard Childress Racing has finally boiled over. Following a run of lacklustre performances and a career-worst start to the 2026 season, RCR have fired crew chief Jim Pohlman.
This move follows a chaotic weekend at Talladega, where Carson Hocevar took a shock maiden victory, and where half the field – including the RCR cars – were taken out in a massive 26-car ‘Big One.’
Kyle Busch is now under huge pressure to show that a change of pit crew can still save his season.
Other motorsport snippets:
- The ‘Frankenstein’ crisis: F1 engine manufacturers have failed to reach a consensus on how to fix the 2026 power units. Drivers warn that the 50/50 electric-combustion split is forcing cars to slow down on straights to harvest energy. The FIA has put temporary measures in place.
- IndyCar lockdown: Penske Entertainment has finalised the rules restricting non-charter entries (like Prema Racing) to the Indy 500 only for the 2027 season.
- Miami’s new boss: Katharina Nowak makes history this weekend as F1’s youngest-ever race president, overseeing a sold-out crowd in Miami and a controversial redesign of the marina.
Miami F1 Grand Prix schedule (BST):
- Practice 1: Friday, May 1 – 17:00
- Sprint race: Friday, May 1 – 21:30
- Main Grand Prix: Sunday, May 3 – 21:00
