Why F1 drivers dislike the Miami GP circuit and how it could be improved

“It’s most likely on the backside of my listing of most well-liked circuits,” stated Lewis Hamilton, the dismissive tone and matching facial features indicating that no elucidation could be forthcoming.

Pity the poor scribbler who had clearly accepted a fee from some outlet or different to write down a narrative speaking up the Miami race, spending the newest grand prix weekends doggedly working the rounds of press conferences for constructive quotes. Some drivers noticed the motive behind the in any other case incongruous line of questioning and generously did their finest to facilitate; the bulk had been lukewarm at finest.

Lewis was stone chilly.

“As an occasion?” our colleague pressed, wearily.

“Similar.”

For the reason that Miami Grand Prix joined the Formulation 1 calendar in 2022 within the first blaze of post-Drive to Survive American viewers progress, the non permanent observe across the Laborious Rock Stadium has elicited blended emotions at finest.

From day one of many inaugural version, F1’s drivers complained in regards to the format and floor (which needed to be patched up in the course of the opening weekend). The organisers have needed to mitigate each this and the logistical difficulties of assembling the circuit with out inflicting visitors points which may bitter relations with native companies and residents.

There have been additionally reported points surrounding VIP catering – over which anyone not blessed with such a go needn’t have fretted unduly for the poor celebs and hangers-on going hungry and athirst. Tuning up each this and the observe floor was a significant focus earlier than the race’s second outing.

The brand new floor has quietened many complaints about racing practicalities however some parts of the format stay problematic for drivers, notably the part between Turns 13 and 16 – together with the chicane which Max Verstappen famously stated could be higher taken “in a go-kart”.

To some extent that is unavoidable although, for the reason that quantity of actual property is finite and the circuit has to manoeuvre round a stadium in addition to the elevated freeway ramps which dictate that slow-speed part and chicane. The essential focus right here detracts from these areas of the observe which are considered profitable, notably the primary sector which loops across the stadium and ends with the multi-apex Turns 6-7-8.

“Fairly mega” is how Esteban Ocon described Miami’s first sector, and he beforehand counted himself among the many circuit’s critics after his shunt at Flip 13 throughout observe for the inaugural occasion.

“You may actually push the sting when it comes to traces and kerb utilization,” stated Ocon’s former Alpine team-mate Pierre Gasly of the opening sector and its positives.

The observe designers evaluated 30 completely different permutations earlier than alighting on this one and it’s simple to see why that first sector is so efficient. Sadly, its format then dictates the route again in the direction of the beginning.

“I believe the a part of the observe from Flip 12 to fifteen might be not likely made for these Formulation 1 vehicles,” stated Fernando Alonso, “nevertheless it’s the identical for everyone.

“You simply attempt to survive that sector nevertheless it’s not likely a sector the place you’ll be able to push or discover a tenth of a second or one thing like that, you simply go in the course of the observe and it’s not tremendous attention-grabbing.”

Esteban Ocon, Alpine A522, crashes out

Photograph by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Photographs

The problem in utilizing this space of the campus is the doorway and exit ramps and flyover sections of the Florida Turnpike and NW 203rd Avenue. Security rules dictate caps on pace and clearance round all that concrete, therefore the fiddly chicane – to which the circuit designers added a crest as a ‘mistake generator’.

Whereas drivers are all the time liable to complain about such parts, they do have their advantages when it comes to probably spicing up the racing. In that context the current format in that space arguably represents the best use of the house.

So if Miami is to stay “an ungainly observe with awkward corners” as Alex Albon describes it, is there one other option to resolve among the drivers’ complaints? Doubtlessly sure.

Over the primary three editions, criticism of the observe floor has proceeded hand in hand with complaints about tyre behaviour in Miami’s burgeoning spring warmth. Final 12 months Pirelli’s soft-compound rubber – the C4 compound – proved so delicate to overheating that Lando Norris, Hamilton and George Russell swapped to mediums in Q3.

However the medium and arduous compounds, in addition to being much less temperature-sensitive, had been much less vulnerable to degradation and graining, making a one-stop race the optimum technique. This naturally has the impact of creating races extra prone to be processional, as demonstrated within the early rounds this 12 months – which is why the Miami compounds will truly be a step softer, with C4 turning into the medium alternative.

Pirelli modified the C4 this 12 months to make it much less vulnerable to degradation, so the result stays unsure.

Alex Albon, Williams FW46 Zhou Guanyu, Stake F1 Crew Kick Sauber C44

Photograph by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Photographs

A method the organisers may recover from the temperature problem could be to carry the race at evening – and Miami Grand Prix president Tyler Epp is on document as saying it is a risk he’s evaluating. Transferring the race’s calendar slot to a cooler time of 12 months could be troublesome, owing to the Miami Open tennis event and the necessities of the soccer season.
 
However internet hosting the race at evening, or at the very least within the night, may play to the occasion’s ambitions to be F1’s occasion capital – though the impression on neighbours must be thought of and mitigated.

By way of its impact on the on-track motion, a time change may very well be transformational. As Ocon identified, decrease temperatures would put the tyres below much less duress and alter the strategy to the complete course.

“With 20 levels much less it will be tremendous good and flowing,” he concluded.