Formula E is making its return to the vibrant streets of Miami, but this time with a fresh twist in the form of a brand-new track layout. For Season 12, the all-electric racing series will hit the Miami International Autodrome for a trip through the iconic Hard Rock Stadium on January 31, 2026.
The Miami venue is already a fan favourite on the Formula 1 calendar and previously hosted Formula E’s EVO Sessions in 2025. The city also provides a home backdrop for several teams on the grid, with DS Penske, CUPRA KIRO, and Andretti all set to race on familiar ground. Prior to Season 12, the Miami E-Prix was held at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
Last year’s race certainly yielded some mighty impressive results. Norman Nato secured the Julius Baer Pole Position. While the Nissan driver didn’t win the race, it marked yet another Porsche domination from Pascal Wehrlein and António Félix da Costa. Perhaps one of the most memorable moments was Lucas di Grassi’s masterful drive that led Lola Yamaha ABT to earn their first podium of the season.
Track Layout
With the buzz around the new track, there’s curiosity surrounding how it will fit Formula E’s dynamic racing style. Although it shares the same venue as Formula 1, the Miami E-Prix uses a bespoke, shorter layout of the Miami International Autodrome. The updated layout is a 2.32-kilometre configuration featuring 14 corners.
The shortened layout weaves tightly around Hard Rock Stadium, combining short straights with a sequence of technical corners that aligns perfectly with the performance attributes and battery needs of the GEN3 Evo cars. With multiple direction changes and compact racing lines, the circuit is expected to encourage close racing and overtaking opportunities, while clearly distinguishing itself from the longer, 19-corner Formula 1 layout used at the same venue.
Rookie Free Practice Returns
Ahead of the Miami E-Prix, the weekend will also feature the Rookie Free Practice Sessions on January 30, 2026. This 40-minute session allows drivers from various racing disciplines to showcase their skills in electric racing. These sessions form part of a larger collaboration between the FIA and Formula E.
The Rookie Free Practice Sessions aim to meet the series’ vision of nurturing future talents in motorsports and giving them a space to experience a different and more sustainable form of racing in GEN3 Evo machinery. Each team nominates a driver that will represent them. This is a continuation of initiatives such as the Women’s Test held in Valencia.
Last year’s session took place in Jeddah and showcased some exciting names who have previously collaborated with the series, such as Jak Crawford, Kush Maini, Alex Dunne, and Tatiana Calderon. Ahead of the weekend, several drivers have made headlines for their participation. Some names include FIA Formula 3 race winner Nikita Bedrin with DS Penske, DTM champion Ayhancan Güven with Porsche, Chloe Chambers with Mahindra, and INDY NXT Champion Dennis Hauger with Andretti.
Key Moments from Season 11
In Season 11, the series hosted a unique, albeit intriguing, event called the EVO sessions. Eleven of the world’s most popular personalities took over Formula E cars and tried their hand at electric racing. The intention with these sessions was to expose Formula E to a whole new population of fans that immerse themselves in the world of electric racing through these popular content creators.
Last year’s E-Prix stands out as one of the most ‘controversial’ races of the season. Norman Nato claimed his first career pole and seemed poised for a win, but a series of setbacks during the race turned the outcome into a hit-and-miss situation. Nato, along with several other drivers, received penalties for failing to use their Attack Mode activations.
Following a red flag triggered by a collision between Jake Hughes, Max Günther and Mitch Evans, the race turned into a four-lap sprint. During this, multiple drivers, including Nato, chose to activate Attack Mode. However, the attempt proved futile as the timings did not align with the remaining duration of the race. Ultimately, penalties for Norman Nato and Robin Frijns, who were in the top 3. led to a demotion.
The final race classification featured Pascal Wehrlein, Lucas di Grassi—who secured Lola Yamaha ABT’s first podium—and António Félix da Costa. The McLarens were also among the many drivers who faced penalties. Many opposed the decision, arguing that the red flag resulted from extenuating circumstances beyond a driver’s control.
Beginning in 2026, officials have changed the Attack Mode rules. Drivers will have an additional opportunity to carry out both their activations should there be any interruptions that affect the opportunity. Heading into the Miami International Autodrome, Norman Nato will certainly be one of the drivers to watch out for in the hopes of replicating last year’s performance and converting it to a steady win.
The Big Talking Points
One of the key players that fans will be on the lookout for will be Dan Ticktum and CUPRA KIRO. After a string of bad luck, Ticktum sits last in the standings, caused by crashes in Brazil and Mexico City. In both of these instances, the Brit was merely collateral damage that hindered any steady form he built throughout the weekend.
Meanwhile, his teammate Pepe Martí had quite the turnaround in Mexico City. The Spaniard had an intense crash in São Paulo—resulting in a 60-place grid penalty. Despite starting from the back of the grid, Martí brought home six points for the American team and aims to carry that momentum into Miami.
Another key player to watch is the man himself, Nick Cassidy. His win in Mexico City already makes him a major contender for the Drivers’ Championship, which he currently leads. Fans are excited to see whether he can uphold the saying that any driver who wins in Mexico City goes on to take the championship. Cassidy, Stellantis and Citroën are currently leading their respective championships.
Jake Dennis sits four points behind Cassidy in the Drivers’ Championship, and Andretti is eight points behind Citroën in the Team Standings. Porsche will look to bounce back from their questionable weekend in Mexico. Despite performing well all weekend, both drivers —Pascal Wehrlein and Nico Müller—finished sixth and ninth, respectively.
While Wehrlein faced elimination in the group stage of qualifying, he quickly bounced back in the race. Müller also took the lead of the race at one point with his teammate close behind. But as luck and strategy would have it, both finished below the top 5.
Don’t miss the action at the Miami E-Prix and the Rookie Free Practice Sessions—it promises to be an electrifying weekend! Check out the full schedule and all updates on The Girls Who Motorsport’s Instagram.