Formula 2 heads to Miami for North American debut
Round 2 - Miami - Preview
Formula 2 is back.
Round 2 heads to Miami, joining Formula 1 for its first North American stop of the season.
Eight weeks on from the opening round in Melbourne, the FIA Formula 2 Championship returns to action at the Miami International Autodrome, kicking off the next phase of the 2026 campaign.
Hitech arrives in Miami off the back of a strong start at the Australian Grand Prix, with both drivers scoring points and sitting inside the top 10 after the opening round.
Colton Herta: an unexpected home race
Miami is a big weekend for Colton Herta.
A home race. Early in his Formula 2 career. An unanticipated return to racing in front of US motorsport fans who have followed his IndyCar career so closely.
He scored points in the Feature Race on his Melbourne debut, showing steady progress across his first weekend in a brand new championship.
Colton Herta:
“It’s huge that we get to come stateside! It’s very special for me and something I did not see coming this year, so for that I feel very lucky.”
Colton continues:
“Miami is one of two tracks on the revised calendar that will be new for everyone. I’ve obviously watched them on TV and they look like a lot of fun and a real thrill to drive. Hopefully, we can put on a great show for the fans, sow the seed for the future, and see more F2 races over here in the future. I’m excited to build on everything we learned in Melbourne.”
Ritomo Miyata: early consistency
Ritomo arrives in Miami after scoring points in both Melbourne races and settling quickly into his new team environment at Hitech.
Now comes a completely new challenge – a circuit nobody in Formula 2 has raced before.
Ritomo Miyata:
“Melbourne was a great start. We were consistent and scored points in both races at a circuit I’ve raced at before. Miami is new for everyone, but we’ve done plenty of work on the sim to make sure we are up to speed and can adapt quickly. It’s going to be a great learning experience for the whole grid.”
Miami: a great leveller
A completely new circuit brings a level playing field, with unfamiliar characteristics and technical challenges that the entire field will have to get to grips with.
Built around the Hard Rock Stadium, the 5.41km Miami International Autodrome is a temporary circuit designed for Formula 1, with a 19-corner layout that constantly shifts between speed and control. With no prior F2 running, there is no reference data to rely on, making setup direction and early weekend learning especially critical.
It starts with heavy braking into Turn 1, flows into fast directional changes, then tightens again through the middle sector before another key braking zone into Turns 11 and 17. Every part of the lap demands something different – commitment on entry, precision on exit, and confidence under braking.
Jan Sumann, Hitech’s F2 Head of Race Engineering:
“It’s been a long pause since the opening round, so both the drivers and the team are excited to get back to racing.”
“Miami has been a major focus during the break, with plenty of preparation to make sure we can adapt quickly and maximise our opportunities. Both drivers have been working hard in the sim and in training and are well-prepared for this unexpected but very welcome challenge at this early stage in the new season.”
