The Miami Grand Prix is scheduled for the same weekend this year as its inaugural appearance on the Formula 1 calendar in 2022, but the weather could be very different.
Hot temperatures last year on the newly-laid track surface for the temporary circuit led to low grip levels and eventually tearing up of the track itself after a weekend of F1 cars running around it.
For 2023 race new asphalt has been laid which is expected to provide more grip. If ambient temperatures are high enough then we could see significantly higher track temperatures as the new layer is darker than the old. It has also been jet-washed, further increasing its abrasiveness and potentially leading to very high tyre temperatures.
When F1 cars hit the track for the first time at 2pm local time on Friday it is expected to be the hottest time of the day with the temperature forecast to be 30C. A 20kph westbound wind go against the direction of travel for cars on the pit straight and the straights between turns eight and 11. Therefore drivers are set to benefit from a tailwind on the long back straight heading towards the final corners.
The air temperature is only anticipated to drop by one or two degrees by the time the second practice session starts at 5:30pm, with winds staying just as strong.
Third practice at 12:30pm on Saturday is forecast to take place in similar temperatures, and slightly weaker winds of the same direction coming from the United States’ East Coast only 10 kilometres away.
There is a slight chance of rain for when qualifying begins at 4pm. On Sunday the grand prix’s start time of 3:30pm is again set to be the hottest part of the day, meaning drivers can expect it to get cooler throughout the race.
However Sunday’s forecast also brings a much higher chance of rain. Recent forecasts put it as high as 66% in the local area, and therefore could see herald the arrival of rain before the race finish and the first wet grand prix of 2023.
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2023 Miami Grand Prix
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