F1: Miami GP track expected to race well

F1 heads to the Miami International Autodrome for the first time this weekend, a venue created from scratch around the Hard Rock Stadium, home of the Miami Dolphins NFL team in an area called Miami Gardens.

Measuring 3.36-mile and featuring 19 corners, two long high-speed sections dominate the lap.

The layout was the result of 36 different variations before the local promoter, Formula 1, and Apex Circuit Design settled on the final configuration.

That will see top speeds of some 200mph with an average speed of around 139mph, according to sim runs.

Most drivers had the chance to sample the venue last week, though a handful had cut laps prior to the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix.

That left AlphaTauri’s Yuki Tsunoda to suggest the final complex will become a traffic jam at a Safety Car restart.

“I drove already,” the Japanese driver said in Imola.

“It’s really different, especially in Sector 3, it’s such tight corners.

“If a Safety Car happens, I guess it’s going to be like a real traffic jam there because it’s super tight – even on a hot lap it’s still quite slow corners.

“It’s going be interesting to see.”

Valtteri Bottas raced the circuit on the simulator, suggesting that it should produce competitive racing.

“Actually, what is nice to see is that this seems to be a really good track for overtaking,” said the 10-time grand prix winner.

“I think the way the track has been planned, I think from my side, it looks positive. It should be good racing, pretty long straights and a couple of really good overtaking opportunities.

“So let’s see how it is in real life, but to me on the sim it looks good, and I’m sure as an event is going to be pretty amazing.”

Celebrities expected to attend the race include LeBron James, Michael Jordan, Tom Brady, Pharrell, Dan Marino, David Beckham, James Corden, the Williams sisters and Wyclef

Mark C. reporting for AutoRacing1.com