F1 drivers say Miami track tweaks made it “much better” for racing · RaceFans

Method 1’s first Miami Grand Prix passed off in 2022 on a model new observe that provided little or no grip and fell aside within the warmth.

That put strain on the occasion organiser to have the observe as much as scratch for this 12 months’s race. A brand new floor was duly laid in time for F1’s return.

Nonetheless drivers nonetheless voiced doubts about its suitability for racing. In addition to nonetheless being pretty low on grip, the observe’s little-loved flip 14-15 chicane remained, and the FIA’s determination to shorten two of its DRS zones prompted warnings from some drivers.

Having a brand new floor for 2023 meant the grip ranges had been totally different to final 12 months, and in a single day rain between qualifying and the race additionally washed away the rubber that had been laid down. Nevertheless the 57-lap race featured 52 overtakes, with race winner Max Verstappen contributing eight of these as he carved his method by means of from ninth on the grid to the lead.

Afterwards a number of drivers stated they had been happy with the standard of the motion on-track. “I feel it was superb,” stated Fernando Alonso, “additionally the DRS.”

“I did [go off-line] simply to overhaul the Alpine and the Ferrari. I feel Max was P2 by lap 14. So loads of DRS distance, and numerous overtaking.

“Then ultimately you might be within the place you deserve, and your automotive pays, and there’s no extra overtaking from that time. However that’s not an issue of the foundations or the circuit, it’s simply the character of F1.”

Verstappen thought the off-line grip “improved fairly a bit over the weekend” having been certainly one of many within the paddock who had anticipated overtaking can be tough.

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“I used to be somewhat bit afraid, in fact, with the rain that it will be a bit worse,” he stated. “However most locations had been fairly okay.

“It’s a avenue circuit, you’ll be able to’t count on it to be superb off-line, that’s the way it goes. However general I feel it was much more enjoyable to drive in comparison with final 12 months. I feel the Tarmac has been rather a lot higher. So it was completely high quality, it’s not a nasty observe. I feel the primary sector is sort of alright.”

The Purple Bull driver would love a change at one level on the circuit, the place he bumped into hassle throughout Q3 on Saturday. “I’m not an enormous fan of turns seven and eight, since you simply can’t actually see the apex coming,” he stated.

“You’re nearly attempting to look over your tyre, which is already an enormous factor in the way in which. However the remaining, [turns] four-five-six is enjoyable. I feel enchancment was made to the chicane this 12 months. It was a bit extra enjoyable, the way you had been driving it. So it’s first rate.”

His Purple Bull workforce mate Sergio Perez had considerations about the identical nook, however felt the remainder of the observe had been improved.

“I feel the principle drawback is simply flip seven and eight, going off-line, somewhat bit off-line and there’s no grip, it’s like ice there,” Perez stated. “So perhaps if there may be some enchancment there. However the remainder of the circuit has been an excellent enchancment.”

Alpine’s Esteban Ocon additionally gave a optimistic verdict on the adjustments, calling the observe “significantly better than final 12 months, I feel to overhaul as nicely.”

“There’s been extra grip on the within and I feel they’ve performed an excellent job, general, the organisers, to have the ability to give race observe,” he stated.

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