Method 1’s first Miami Grand Prix occurred in 2022 on a model new monitor that supplied little or no grip and fell aside within the warmth.

That put stress on the occasion organiser to have the monitor as much as scratch for this yr’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 monitor’s little-loved flip 14-15 chicane remained, and the FIA’s resolution to shorten two of its DRS zones prompted warnings from some drivers.

Having a brand new floor for 2023 meant the grip ranges have been totally different to final yr, and in a single day rain between qualifying and the race additionally washed away the rubber that had been laid down. Nonetheless 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.

Awkward chicane was eased to enhance flowAfterwards a number of drivers mentioned they have been happy with the standard of the motion on-track. “I feel it was superb,” mentioned 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 a whole lot of overtaking.

“Then finally you’re within the place you deserve, and your automobile 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 considered one of many within the paddock who had anticipated overtaking could be tough.

“I used to be somewhat bit afraid, after all, with the rain that it could be a bit worse,” he mentioned. “However most locations have been fairly okay.

Six-seven-eight sequence caught some drivers out“It’s a avenue circuit, you possibly can’t count on it to be superb off-line, that’s the way it goes. However total I feel it was much more enjoyable to drive in comparison with final yr. I feel the Tarmac has been so much higher. So it was completely fantastic, it’s not a nasty monitor. I feel the primary sector is sort of alright.”

The Crimson Bull driver would love a change at one level on the circuit, the place he bumped into bother 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 mentioned.

“You’re virtually making an attempt 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 a superb enchancment was made to the chicane this yr. It was a bit extra enjoyable, the way you have been using it. So it’s first rate.”

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

“I feel the primary downside is barely flip seven and eight, going off-line, somewhat bit off-line and there’s no grip, it’s like ice there,” Perez mentioned. “So perhaps if there could 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 monitor “significantly better than final yr, I feel to overhaul as nicely.”

“There’s been extra grip on the within and I feel they’ve accomplished an excellent job, total, the organisers, to have the ability to give a superb race monitor,” he mentioned.

2023 Miami Grand Prix

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