PREVIEW: Season hots up in Miami for Round 2

FIA Formula 2 races in the United States for the very first time as Miami hosts Round 2 of the 2026 season.

The Miami International Autodrome is a brand-new venue for the teams and drivers to tackle, and getting up to speed quickly will count for a lot this weekend.

Here’s everything you need to know for the second round of the year.

WHAT TO EXPECT

With a new track to learn, expect a lot of laps in Practice, which kicks off the weekend at 09:30 local time on Friday morning.

The grid-setting Qualifying session follows later in the day, with the green light scheduled for 14:30 local time, and temperatures are set to put the drivers to the test on a searing Floridian afternoon.

The first U.S. F2 race takes place on Saturday, with the Sprint scheduled to get going at 10:00 local time.

Sunday’s Feature Race will be the final action from Round 2, with lights out set for 12:30 Miami time.

Drivers will have the yellow-walled Medium Pirelli tyres along with the purple-marked Supersofts.

STAT PACK

• The Miami International Autodrome incorporates roads and purpose-built track surrounding the Miami Dolphins NFL Stadium
• There are three DRS zones across the 5.412Km layout
• Miami is the first new venue since Lusail joined the F2 calendar in 2024
• Campos Racing and Invicta Racing have already had both drivers score a podium in the opening two races

FROM THE GRID – Tasanapol Inthraphuvasak, ART Grand Prix

“I think Miami is a very unique circuit that has a bit of everything with fast, high-speed sections as well as some very low speed corners, especially through the middle sector.

“I think there should be some good overtaking opportunities into Turn 1, Turn 11 and 17 at the end of very long straights with the DRS zones, so I think racing should be really good.

“One of the biggest challenges I think will be the track evolution. Miami is a circuit that has a lot of track evolution between sessions. So, jumping into Qualifying will be super tricky, especially with no experience around the circuit before.

“Overall, I think the track will produce some great racing and I think the atmosphere there will be really special, so I can't wait.”

TECHNICAL PREVIEW

Pierre-Alain Michot, FIA Formula 2 Technical Director

“Miami will be a new challenge for teams and drivers to figure out and should provide plenty of action in both the Sprint and Feature Races.

“Track evolution will be a big factor to keep on top of, not just between sessions but also from the green light to chequered flag in Qualifying especially.

“The sweeping middle sector and long back straight are both punctuated with heavy braking phases at the end of DRS zones, so expect plenty of overtakes here.”

PIRELLI PREVIEW

The Formula 2 championship will race at the Miami International Autodrome for the first time in its history. The reshaping of the series calendar has seen the circuit built around the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami added as the second round of the season: a 5.412-kilometre street track featuring 19 corners and three straights. The compounds selected for the weekend are Medium and Supersoft, with a clear step between the two options. This difference could encourage some teams to consider starting the Feature Race on the Supersoft, in order to gain an early advantage. The softer compound will inevitably suffer from more pronounced degradation, unlike the Medium, which should deliver more consistent performance over a longer stint. Miami has also accustomed us to sudden changes in weather conditions. Should temperatures be cooler, for example following a rain shower, drivers may need to pay closer attention to warming up the yellow-marked tyre, while stints on the Supersoft could potentially be extended by a few laps. The latter, however, could be prone to graining, a phenomenon that drivers may be able to keep under control through careful pace management. It should also be remembered that the likelihood of a safety car intervention is high, given the typical characteristics of a street circuit, an additional factor that teams will need to take into account.