Miami Grand Prix thunderstorm rules explained as race under threat

F1 preview: A lap of the Miami Grand Prix

FIA chiefs have introduced a new rule for the Miami Grand Prix with bad weather predicted for the race. Max Verstappen, Sergio Perez and Lewis Hamilton may be forced to battle it out in wet conditions with a 40 per cent chance of rain.

United States laws means the race could be suspended in the event of a lightning strike with new regulations for engineers to follow. US rules mean open-air events must be suspended if there is a risk people could be struck by lightning.

It means the Grand Prix will be immediately red-flagged in the event of a lightning storm. Meanwhile, teams will be forced to wheel their cars back into the pit garage.

This is different to F1’s usual rules where cars line up at the end of the pit lane during a stoppage. The new regulations will not just apply to this weekend’s Miami Grand Prix but also the other two United States races in Austin and Las Vegas.

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Met Office experts claim there is a 40 per cent chance of precipitation between 3pm and 7pm local time. The race is due to get underway at 3.30pm (8.30pm UK time) meaning the race could be in jeopardy.

BBC Weather has also predicted thunderstorms for this afternoon but predicts there is just a 12 per cent chance of rain when the race is scheduled to begin. Heavy rain drenched the track overnight which washed away much of the grip rubbered in over the weekend.

It could leave teams struggling with limited data on how their tyres could interact with the newly laid surface.

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Last night, Ferrari boss Frederic Vasseur revealed that his team felt rain could play a factor in the Grand Prix. The Frenchman said: “There’s a chance of rain tomorrow, which could shake things up as well.”

Pirelli’s motorsport boss Mario Isola has also warned rain was increasingly likely to stroke on Sunday. He commented: “Forecasts indicate that rain could come into play on Sunday, either before or during the race.

“And as everyone knows, if it rains, anything can happen.”

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