Hamilton's reckoning with Miami: Why the course fails with drivers

(Motorsport-Total.com) - Lewis Hamilton was asked during a media round how he liked the Miami International Autodrome. His answer was clear: "This track is probably at the bottom of my list of favorite tracks." Hamilton didn't say anything more. His few words speak volumes anyway – and represent many fellow drivers who also dislike Miami.

This has been the case since the first day Miami appeared on the Formula 1 calendar in 2022: drivers complained about the layout of the track and the condition of the asphalt.

Although the organizers optimized the track surface for the second Grand Prix a year later, criticism of the track layout persisted. The section between turns 13 and 16 at the end of the second sector before the long back straight is particularly objectionable to many: Max Verstappen famously compared the section to a go-kart track .

The layout of the Miami International Autodrome is, at least in part, a matter of necessity: Public roads limited the track designers , and speeds couldn't be too high. The result was a slow chicane that seemed to break the rhythm of the entire circuit.

Top marks for the first sector

The Miami track actually starts off very smoothly: In the first sector, the track winds along the Hard Rock Stadium and ends in the spectacular, fast left-hander, which is designated as turns 6, 7, and 8 in the layout. Many drivers have crashed there because they overshot the limit.

The fact that Miami is challenging at this point is widely praised. Haas driver Esteban Ocon, for example, finds the first sector "pretty awesome." Alpine driver Pierre Gasly also says: "You can really push when choosing your line and driving over the curbs." This appeals to Formula 1 drivers.

The middle sector fails with the drivers

Thirty different layout versions in the first sector alone were once under discussion before those in charge settled on the current version. However, there also needed to be a route back to the start and finish after the first sector – and that continues to be a disappointment to the drivers.

Former champion Fernando Alonso of Aston Martin says: "From Turn 12 onward, the track isn't really made for Formula 1 cars." He also dislikes the winding, slow section before the long straight.

"Basically, you're just trying to get through. It's not really a sector where you can push or find a tenth. You're just riding in the middle of the track, and that's not particularly interesting."

The section only becomes interesting when drivers make mistakes—and that's exactly how it's intended: The small crest in the chicane is a case in point. In that sense, those responsible have made the best of the local conditions: a spot where something can happen.

What could be done differently in Miami

But are there ways to make the racetrack more attractive? Perhaps. Until now, drivers have always complained about the tire behavior in Miami, especially since it's always very hot during the spring race season. In 2024, the Pirelli tires overheated so much that Lewis Hamilton, Lando Norris, and George Russell switched from soft to medium in qualifying!

The low-wear tire situation led to a one-stop strategy in the Grand Prix, which is traditionally not very entertaining. This tends to turn a race into a procession, as some Grands Prix in the 2025 season have also demonstrated. Therefore, Pirelli is going a step softer with its tire allocation for Miami this year .

Will Miami become a night race?

And the local organizers of the Formula 1 race are also thinking about it: Grand Prix President Tyler Epp is thinking about a night race in Miami because rescheduling the race could be difficult due to other major sporting events such as tennis and football.

A Formula 1 race at night or in the evening would be just what Miami's marketing needs, as Miami sees itself as the party capital of Formula 1. Only the local residents could object, as was the case when the race track was being planned a few years ago .

But a later start time would likely be worth its weight in gold for the race: lower temperatures would put significantly less strain on the tires. "With 20 degrees Celsius less, the track would be wonderful and smooth to drive on," says Ocon. That's giving the organizers something to think about.