By Neil Leverett
- Round 5 of the 2022 Formula 1 season moves to Florida this weekend for the inaugural Miami Grand Prix
- Sunshine State hosts first GP since 1959
- Ferrari eye response to Red Bull dominance at Imola; Mercedes hint at move in right direction;
MIAMI, FLORIDA – A fortnight on from Max Verstappen’s cruise to victory at Imola, Formula 1 returns this weekend as the Miami Grand Prix takes its bow
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After the rains of the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix a fortnight ago, Formula 1 resumes this weekend in the United States as The Sunshine State hosts the inaugural Miami Grand Prix.
With four races now in the books for the 2022 season, Charles Leclerc leads the World Drivers’ Championship by 27 points over Max Verstappen despite victory at Imola for the latter. However, the battle between their respective teams in Ferrari and Red Bull remains far tighter as just nine points separates the two manufacturers.
Verstappen was the winner in the States last season in Austin, whilst Ferrari’s last victory requires a trip three years further back to Kimi Raikkonen’s win at COTA in 2018.
As the first full European leg of the terms approaches later this month then, the chance to sample the newest stop on a more global world tour than ever could be key and both driver and fans alike are excited by the prospect of race weekend in one of the big party cities of the world.
Hype for Miami debut
Though some locals in the Miami Gardens area have voiced their disapproval at the increase in noise pollution that will come from a GP in their back yard, there is though a real buzz for F1 in The Magic City ahead of this weekend.
As the number of venues on the calendar increase by the year, many, of course, feel rather formulaic for a race venue – as they should – but Miami Gardens feels fresh, fun and like a true 21st century F1 event.
From a fan point of view, by next year, the US will take in three stops in the season and ahead of the Las Vegas GP in 2023 which will see drivers take to The Strip, this feels like a glorious spring warm-up act.
After Wednesday night’s typically spectacular and grand launch party in the shape of a raucous DJ set, the buzz has grown all week.
With a growing number of street circuits on the calendar already, Miami’s rather salubrious surroundings could finally see F1 crack the US market. Even if it doesn’t however, Miami has all the ingredients to become a fan and indeed, driver favourite.
The circuit
Housed in the heart of Miami’s metropolitan area, the circuit stretches around Miami Gardens’ sport-mad mecca with home of the Miami Dolphins, Hard Rock Stadium, the centrepiece.
As the same multifaceted Stadium also hosts the Miami Open held annually between March and April, the Calder Race Course is also located in the area, meaning perhaps only Albert Park and the Australian GP are able to match Miami as a true sporting hub for a race.
Though few faces can hold a candle to Monte Carlo on the F1 calendar in terms of glamour, Miami feels like Monaco’s less stoical brother.
In terms of how racing may pan out, there is a genuine expectation that the track should flow seamlessly.
The 5.41km layout features 19 corners, three straights, potential for three DRS zones, and an estimated top speed of 320km/h. There are elevation changes, the main one found between Turns 13 and 16, with various flyovers across uneven ground. Turn 14-15’s chicane, meanwhile, has an uphill approach, with a crest in the middle, and then drops down on exit.
After Jeddah’s Corniche Circuit broke ground in F1 last season, Miami is ready to play usurper.
Wolff looking to Mercedes’ ‘resilience’
As Red Bull and Ferrari continue to blaze the 2022 trail, Mercedes linger in the shadows waiting to make their own impact and there appear signs that the Silver Arrows could make a pointed comeback in Miami.
Though George Russell has now finished P5 at worst in his first four races for his new team, Lewis Hamilton treads a rather more forlorn figure and 13th spot in Italy last time out was his worst outing yet this campaign.
But there could finally be light at the end of the tunnel – wind tunnels to be exact – and Mercedes’ boss Toto Wolff believes the hard graft behind the scenes between races will finally pay off.
And as he told F1.com, Wolff feels it could be Miami where Mercedes see a reversal in fortunes.
“Since we returned from Italy, we’ve learned as much from the weekend as we can and, in parallel, our learning has continued in the wind tunnel and simulations. We have found several directions for improving the car, and we will be conducting experiments in Miami to correlate those simulations, and hopefully confirm the development path for the coming races.
“This team has shown its resilience over many years and the difficult start to this season has lit a fire within every team member, determined to put it right. The saying ‘smooth seas do not make good sailors’ comes to mind.”
The Formula 1 Crypto.com Miami Grand Prix 2022 takes place this weekend.
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