Formula 1 drivers have expressed concerns that poor grip off-line at Miami International Autodrome will make overtaking difficult in Sunday’s race.
The 5.4km circuit set around the grounds of Hard Rock Stadium, the home of the Miami Dolphins NFL team, features fast, sweeping turns, two long straights followed by hairpins and a tight and narrow technical sequence in the second sector.
Drivers took to the track for the first time in Friday’s two practice sessions with several drivers spinning and Carlos Sainz Jnr and Valtteri Bottas both crashing heavily to end their respective days’ running.
“It’s really disappointing that there is no grip off-line,” said Sergio Perez after the first two practice sessions at the new track on Friday. “It’s a shame because I think the racing will be bad due to that.
“As soon as you try to go off-line, there is no grip. It’s damp, probably it’s wet on that side. It feels very gravelly off-line. So yeah, racing will be hard.”
Lando Norris echoed Perez’s comments, saying the lack of grip at some points on the track explained why several drivers spun or crashed during practice.
“It’s extremely tricky,” said the McLaren driver. “It’s very bumpy in some areas, which was maybe not quite what we were expecting. I think everyone was expecting it to be very smooth and beautiful but it’s not.
“The surface is very tricky as well. You go off-line anywhere and it’s pretty much game over. You spin and you end up in in the wall. So it’s punishing. That’s why we’ve seen quite a few people ending up in the barriers.”
The race organisers repaired two patches of track before F1 practice began on Friday. Norris is hoping they can find other ways to improve the grip ahead of final practice.
“It’s a bit weird, if you go off-line anywhere it’s just terrible,” he said. “So I’m hoping they can do something a little bit better. I don’t know what.
“I think when they clean the track, it helps. This…