After months of anticipation and a build up to a race weekend unlike many seen before, Formula 1 finally explored the Miami International Autodrome for the first time across Friday’s two practice sessions.
With two hours of running in the books, there had been plenty of lessons learned about what kind of challenge the new Miami circuit will offer drivers this weekend, but not a lot of clarity over what the potential running order could be on Sunday.
As an entirely new venue built around the grounds of an NFL stadium car park, few expected the virgin asphalt around the circuit to offer much grip. But after Friday, the Miami track had revealed itself as a kind of Jekyll and Hyde circuit. Stay on-line and everything’s fine. Venture off it, however, and you’ll put yourself at real risk of disaster – just ask Carlos Sainz Jnr or Valtteri Bottas.
Five red flags flew during the rain-affected qualifying session in Imola two weeks ago. Similar disruption could easily recur today even if it stays dry, as the track is treacherous off-line.
Loose stones are making track slippery“The biggest difficulty was just the asphalt,” McLaren’s Daniel Ricciardo explained after second practice.
“It seems like just the stones are getting loose and kind of get washed just off the line. So if you miss a little bit the apex, then you’re sliding off and it’s difficult.”
Charles Leclerc agreed. “The asphalt will spice things up,” he said.
“There is very high grip on the racing line and very low grip off it, which will make it difficult to overtake. It is also rather aggressive on tyres, so it will be important to manage them well throughout the race.”
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After shunts for Bottas, Sainz and a loose wheel causing Nicholas Latifi to stop on the circuit, the two practice sessions were disrupted by multiple red flags, denying many of the teams the ability to gather the useful long run data that they desperately wanted at such an…