F1 is gearing up for the inaugural Miami Grand Prix this weekend with a race around the Miami Dolphins’ Hard Rock Stadium.
The much-anticipated event joins Austin’s United States Grand Prix on the calendar, with a third American race to follow next year when F1 visits the iconic Strip in downtown Las Vegas.
Seven-time world champion Hamilton, who won the last-ever US race held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 2007 and then competed in a period when the US was absent from the calendar until Austin’s arrival in 2012, says it is great to see the F1 has finally taken off in the country.
“Growing up knowing how amazing the sport is and seeing that there was still quite a disconnect between the US and the rest of the world in terms of the passion for this sport, it’s really amazing to see that we’ve cracked it and there’s a growing love in the States,” Hamilton said.
“There are massive sporting fans out there. And I mean, Miami is going to be an experience for all of us, for the racing community, for those that are the fans out there that are watching, the fans that are going to be flying in that maybe have never been there before.
“The US has a lot to offer in that space, so it’s super exciting.”
Miami track drone overview
Photo by: Miami GP
The 5.41-kilometre anticlockwise circuit in Miami Gardens features a variety of low-speed sections, Esses and a 1.28km, 320kph straight that leads towards the hairpin at Turn 17, which is expected to be the track’s main overtaking opportunity.
Much to social media’s amusement, the circuit also features a fake marina with fake water to give the stadium environment more of a Miami flavour.
Hamilton’s former Mercedes teammate Valtteri Bottas was one of several drivers to give the track the thumbs up when he sampled it on the simulator.
“Actually, it was nice to see that it seems to be a really good track for overtaking,” said the Alfa Romeo driver.
“I think the way the track has been planned; 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 done in real life, but to me on paper, it looks good. And I’m sure as an event it’s going to be pretty amazing.”
Why Miami is a central chapter of F1 2022’s biggest storyline
Aston Martin admits feedback from F1 car not helping its drivers
Bottas suspects “fundamental issue” behind lack of Baku F1 pace
Albon: F1 drivers causing yellows in qualifying should lose laptime
The art of compromise an F1 race engineer has to master
Hamilton wouldn’t miss Canada “for the world” despite back struggles
South Africa in contention for 2023 F1 calendar slot
No “holy cows” on Mercedes F1 car as it ponders 2023 concept revamp
Ferrari prefers fast unreliable F1 car rather than other way around
Azerbaijan Grand Prix Driver Ratings 2022
Formula 1 has never had a repeat winner at Baku, and that trend continued this year as Max Verstappen avenged his 2021 tyre blowout to lead a Red Bull 1-2. Here’s Motorsport.com’s take on the weekend’s best performers
How Ferrari‘s latest implosion stitched up a plausible Baku upset
Ferrari wasn’t expected to be capable of challenging Red Bull on the streets of Baku, but Charles Leclerc took pole for the second year in a row and had assumed the lead when his engine expired. That left Max Verstappen and Red Bull doubly grateful as not only were its blushes spared, but it came away with a 1-2 and extended advantages in both championship standings
The concerning human cost of porpoising that F1 overlooked
The stiff, relatively crude suspension of the latest F1 cars is combining with the porpoising problem to create a dangerous scenario for drivers’ health, says Stuart Codling.
Why Leclerc could be only three laps short of a Baku F1 upset
Circuits with high top speeds have generally been Red Bull’s speciality so far this season but in the opening pair of practice sessions at Baku, Ferrari closed out Friday’s running on top with a good straightline speed advantage. But with Red Bull rival Max Verstappen out of sync in his practice runs, Ferrari and Charles Leclerc may not have seen his best.
The key strength Schumacher can rely on as Haas decides his F1 future
Michael Schumacher’s son has served his apprenticeship with a Haas team that brought up the rear of the Formula 1 field in 2021. Now he has a good car and a proper team-mate, he has to prove he belongs in F1. But his record to date, while not showing any points finishes, reveals there is plenty of promise he can build on
How classic Alonso strengths are helping him in a critical F1 phase
Fernando Alonso has been involved in F1 for over two decades and shows no signs of slowing down. Ben Edwards digs into the work ethic and team-building ability which underpins Alonso’s longevity.
The overlooked flaws of the 2022 F1 cars that Baku will expose
OPINION: Though Formula 1’s return to ground-effect may have boosted overtaking, the other clear by-product of the technical overhaul has been weight gain. With wet conditions in Monaco stealing the show, the greatest shortcomings of the new rules will be on clear display at this weekend’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix
Is F1 barking up the wrong tree with its anti-jewellery stance?
In a new regular column, Maurice Hamilton draws on his decades of grand prix experience to give an alternative take on the news. First up, he ponders the ongoing brouhaha over jewellery…
