The start of Formula 1’s Miami Grand Prix sprint has been delayed as the result of wet conditions making things too dangerous.
An unexpected downpour around 90 minutes before the start of the sprint left the Miami track soaked, and things got even worse as the rain intensified ahead of the scheduled start time.
Conditions were so bad during the laps to the grid that Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, running on intermediate tyres, crashed into the barriers after aquaplaning. He was unable to make it back to the pits.
While the FIA got the formation lap rolling behind the safety car, in a bid to try to clear some water, complaints from drivers during the two laps completed left the FIA unhappy about proceeding.
McLaren’s championship leader Oscar Piastri claimed that conditions were the worst he had experienced in a racing car.
The start procedure was red flagged and cars returned to the pits in the hope that the delay would allow conditions to improve – with the rain clearing and the sun helping to dry things up.
A new start time of 12.28pm local time (5.28pm UK) has now been given.
The regulations allow a 90-minute window in which the sprint race must be completed. That ensures an adequate time gap before qualifying for the grand prix later on Saturday.
