F1 drivers have asked FIA to clean Miami’s first corner

There has been significant criticism from many of the drivers competing in this weekend’s first F1 race at the Miami International Autodrome regarding the new circuit’s low grip away from the racing line.

In the event’s second practice session, Sergio Perez and Sebastian Vettel spun in separate incidents while respectively overtaking other cars and there were three red-flag-causing crashes across the practice running.

The drivers have put this down to a considerable lack of grip away from the rubbered-in racing line, which in any case will be reduced for Sunday’s race after overnight rain in Miami.

But Sainz, who will start second on the grid alongside his Ferrari team-mate Charles Leclerc, says “out of the line feels like it’s wet” at Turn 1, and so the drivers asked the FIA to ensure the track does not have any remaining detritus at that part of the track when they head their en masse at the start of the race.

“At the start it could be very tricky on that inside line and that outside line of Turn 1,” Sainz said in the post-qualifying press conference.

“We’ve asked the FIA to make sure that the track is as clean as possible for that start because we could see mistakes coming from drivers that really have no blame for it.

“Because it’s basically like driving on a dry line and out of the line feels like it’s wet – so we need a bit of help there from the race direction to help us.”

Autosport understands that while the FIA acknowledges the drivers’ request to clean Turn 1, it does not plan to carry out any additional track sweeping or cleaning as the whole circuit is swept ahead of each new session.

Sainz was also asked for his thoughts on the overtaking challenge at the Miami track, which has several long straights and three DRS zones.

While Sainz thinks “overtaking is possible with all these three long straights”, he is concerned the off-line grip will deter drivers from trying on-the-edge…