Miami Grand Prix returns to Hard Rock Stadium amid competitive F1 season

• Several teams have new driver lineups, including Lewis Hamilton joining Ferrari and Yuki Tsunoda joining Red Bull.

MIAMI GARDENS — Much of the racing world is turning its attention to Miami Gardens for the Formula 1 CRYPTO.com Miami Grand Prix – the first of three F1 races hosted by American venues and, this weekend, site of a significant new footprint for the sport going forward.

Miami is not only a vital – and popular – stop of the Formula 1 schedule but this weekend serves as an especially important locale with American manufacturer Cadillac unveiling its livery in preparation for its 2026 debut on the F1 grid. FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem is set to attend both the historic Cadillac debut as well as the busy weekend of racing at the Miami International Autodrome, highlighted by the grand prix on Sunday, May 4, at 4 p.m. 

“The application from GM/Cadillac went through rigorous testing and approvals to ensure we were welcoming the right team to our sport,” Ben Sulayem said. “I have worked tirelessly to make this vision of an expanded grid come true and this marks a transformative moment that will not only benefit Formula 1 but helps bring our sport into the future.

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“This decision was made with the fans in mind and continues to push the boundaries of motorsport to the highest level. Cadillac’s entry represents a powerful fusion of American engineering excellence, heritage and innovation and I look forward to welcoming them.”

Having the manufacturer on the grid is a major development for the sport, which is enjoying one of its most competitive seasons. Three different drivers – Lando Norris, Oscar Piastri and Max Verstappen – have celebrated wins through the first five races as the series arrives in Miami Gardens for the 57-lap contest around the 3.363-mile, 19-turn circuit at Hard Rock Stadium.

For the first time in his brief two-season career, Piastri, an Australian, holds the lead in the world championship standings. The 24-year old McLaren Mercedes driver is coming off his third win of 2025 (at Saudi Arabia) and holds a 10-point lead over Norris, his McLaren teammate, who claimed his first career win in last year’s Miami Grand Prix.

The team has been lights out this season with each driver earning podium finishes in four of the five races – most on the grid.

“I’m excited to be getting back to business this weekend in Miami and will be aiming to execute another strong all-round weekend before we head into the European swing of the season,” Piastri said.

“I love the city, the atmosphere and the people [in South Florida] and it’s a track that I’m feeling very positive about. It’s also a Sprint weekend, so there will be plenty of opportunities to keep the current momentum and energy building.”

Max Verstappen third in F1 championship race

Two-time Miami winner, Red Bull Racing Honda driver Max Verstappen, the reigning and four-time F1 series champion, is third in the championship, 12 points behind Piastri.

Mercedes’ George Russell is fourth in the standings, just ahead of Scuderia Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, who claimed the inaugural 2022 Miami Grand Prix pole position, part of an all-Ferrari front-row start in that race.

Three high-profile teams – Ferrari, Red Bull and Mercedes – will feature new driver lineups for this year’s edition of the Miami race. 

Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton has joined Ferrari and is hoping to land his first podium for the famous Tifosi this week in South Florida. It would be his first career podium finish in Miami.

Joining the dominating champion Verstappen at Red Bull this season is Yuki Tsunoda. He got the promotion to Red Bull three races into the season, replacing young driver Liam Lawson, who now races for organization’s Red Bulls team.

And already making a big impression on the competition is 18-year old phenom Kimi Antonelli. The Italian has earned big accolades in his debut on the F1 grid, joining the veteran Russell at Mercedes. He’s scored points in four of the five races this season with a season-best showing of fourth in the Australian season opener and is ranked sixth in the championship standings.

Also off to a solid start is the Haas F1 team, owned by American businessman Gene Haas. Driver Esteban Ocon is ranked ninth in the championship.

Miami Grand Prix schedule

Practice opens for the Crypto.com Miami Grand Prix on Friday, May 2, at 12:30 p.m., followed by Sprint Race qualifying at 4:30 p.m. The schedule on Saturday, May 3, includes a 19-lap Sprint race at noon, followed by grand prix qualifying at 4 p.m. There is an F1 Academy race at 2:55 p.m. – the series featuring some of the most talented young female open-wheel drivers in the world.

The F1 Academy will race again at 1:05 p.m. on Sunday, May 4, followed by the 57-lap Miami Grand Prix at 4 p.m. 

For the first time, single-day tickets are available for the weekend at f1miamigp.com.

Miami Grand Prix

May 2-4, Miami International Autodrome, Miami Gardens

TV: 12:25 p.m., May 2, practice 1, ESPNU

4:25 p.m., May 2, sprint qualifying, ESPNEWS

11:55 a.m., May 3, sprint, ESPN

3:55 p.m., May 3, qualifying ESPN

4 p.m., May 4, main event, ABC

Tickets: f1miamigp.com/tickets

Defending champ: Lando Norris