The organisers of the Miami Grand Prix have introduced a collection of upgrades for the 2023 model of their occasion, together with a resurfaced monitor and a brand new paddock location on the sector of Onerous Rock Stadium.
Formulation One’s inaugural Miami GP occurred within the space surrounding the Miami Dolphins’ Onerous Rock Stadium final yr, and the race will return to the venue on Could 7 this yr.
Updates to the ability can even embody a brand new and expanded VIP Paddock Membership constructing overlooking the pit lane and begin/end straight.
One criticism of the 2022 occasion was the crumbling of the monitor floor over the course of the weekend, which made it troublesome for drivers to go off the racing line and overtake. Organisers, led by Dolphins CEO Tom Garfinkel, are aiming to resolve the difficulty and have employed famend F1 circuit specialists Tilke to hold out a resurfacing of the circuit.
“We might have simply come again with the racetrack that we had final yr, as a result of the purpose we set out was to have nice racing, quite a lot of overtaking, side-by-side racing, however the monitor we had final yr had components the place there was one line the place there ought to have been the chance to overhaul, and so we weren’t proud of that,” Garfinkel mentioned.
“We will undergo with the funding and expense to go forward and repave it in an effort to get it the place it races higher.
“It raced properly sufficient based on the groups and drivers, however we wish it to be pretty much as good as it may probably be, in order that’s why we will repave it.”
Consideration was given to altering the monitor format, particularly the chicane at Turns 14 and 15, however in the end the configuration of the monitor will stay unchanged.
“We talked to all of the staff principals, the drivers, Formulation One and the FIA — there was differing opinions concerning the chicane,” Garfinkel defined. “Among the drivers did not prefer it; a few of them thought it was wonderful; and all through the grid it was the identical suggestions, in every single place: some appreciated it, some did not, some did not care.
“We went via it with F1, the FIA and Tilke and determined proper now we’re not going to make adjustments. We thought of flattening it out a bit — we’re nonetheless taking a look at that as we finalise issues — however proper now it may keep the identical.
“And that is based mostly on the suggestions we acquired from all of them, which was lots completely different, a few of them did not prefer it, a few of them thought it was wonderful. There may be much less run-off, so a number of the hospitality areas are shifting nearer to the racetrack, however the format itself is basically the identical.
“It is going to be all resurfaced, although.”
The 2023 occasion will see the F1 paddock — the world the place groups are based mostly over the course of the weekend — transfer from a skinny strip between the stadium and the garages to the sector of Onerous Rock Stadium. The transfer ought to create extra space and can permit followers with floor passes to look at the paddock from above.
“The followers will be capable to look down from inside if in case you have a grounds move or any ticket you may get on the 300 stage, sit within the seats, contained in the stadium, and look down on the paddock and see the exercise that is occurring down under,” Garfinkel mentioned.