A grand prix in Miami has been a top target for Formula 1’s owners Liberty Media since they took over the sport five years ago.
But the route to this weekend’s inaugural grand prix has been far from smooth. Since the race was first mooted, when a radical route including an underground tunnel was considered, many different configurations have been proposed, amended and rejected.
The original venue for the race had to be abandoned due to local opposition. A new site was chosen, where the race will take place this weekend, but that layout too has been through many revisions.
Here’s how the final, 5.4-kilometre Miami International Autodrome which will hold this weekend’s Miami Grand Prix evolved from its predecessors.
Original Miami Biscayne Bay track layout
Original 2019 Miami Grand Prix F1 track proposal
F1’s first choice of location for its Miami race was on the waterfront overlooking Biscayne Bay. Single-seaters had raced there before, including the CART IndyCar series and Formula E, and the setting had an obvious appeal for the series.
Unfortunately the series did not hold the same appeal for the locals, which was why the race eventually had to move. But not before the promoters made several attempts to address concerns by modifying the course.
The original, anti-clockwise Miami track layout, including two long acceleration zones leading back and forth across PortMiami, was not a hit with the drivers either.
“Miami is a super-cool place and I was very excited to hear about it,” said Lewis Hamilton . “But when I saw the layout I was like… meh. I think it could be a lot more fun. You have got two of the longest straights, but maybe when you drive it, it will be fun.”
They never got to drive it, of course, though not due to a lack of effort on the promoters’ part.
Original Miami Grand Prix circuit location
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Bayfront Park route
Proposed Miami Grand Prix track version two
The…