Analysing the newly built Miami International Autodrome circuit with analysis of all parts, including the pitlane.
Formula 1’s newest circuit is the Miami International Autodrome, located in… Miami around the famous Hard Rock Stadium. A purpose built “temporary” track for the race. 19 official corners. 3 DRS zones. 5.412 kilometres of wavy and mixed track. This is the circuit in a nutshell but in – depth it is a bit more interesting. Apart from the features such as the track going under a low flyover road and around some created environments and a pit lane that is located very precisely, there is a lot more in that approximately 5 and a half kilometers of track.
MAIN FEATURES – OVERVIEW
There is the what can be called a technical section from Turn 11 to Turn 16 which is a very important part in terms of possible time lost and gained and also in terms of testing the drivers and the car. The straight are straight and long. The other part such as from Turn 2 to Turn 6 and the Turn 9 part also act as sort of straights with not much lift or braking and a good flow to them. This means that about whole of the circuit is consisted of parts that help teams with a higher top speed and ofcourse fast acceleration. The other sections test the grip quite a lot.
A LAP
The track is mixed. It has a lot of its own features and some features that are developments of some successful challenging parts of other circuits around the world – an aim to create new challenges and develop existing ones. Three main areas on the track are specifically interesting given the impact they can have – both negatively as well as positively which is the catch.
Firstly, Turn 1. Both at the race start and otherwise offers a good opportunity. At the race start, it offers a chance for some chaos. The turn has fair amount of straight before it even in the rundown at the start which allows for cars to position themselves accordingly. The outside and inside lines both offer opportunities with it being fairly wide and even in its turning. It works similar to a hairpin but is not one. Both lines also stay beneficial due to what comes next. There is a sequence of quick turns which flow. The outside line in Turn 1 provides the more advantageous line as that helps block the suited entry racing line into Turn 2 with a good exit which helps launch into the others.
A wavy part like waves on a beach.
Turns 6 to 8 act overall like one big turn, something like the one at Sochi Autodrome or at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit. Over here, it will be crucial to find the right amount of braking and acceleration mix not only to have a good speed and make a good turn but to avoid any unnecessary break in flow of motion while protecting the tyres. The slowly changing turning angle makes it a very interesting turn where car handling will be crucial to keep the tyres in a good condition and also not having to keep adjusting steering input a lot and complicating the turn in of the card which in turn impact the exit speed achieved. During the race, the exit has probably the most important DRS Detection Zone.
The DRS Detection Zone, which will be just after the exit is the one for the DRS on the long straight which bends slowly. The DRS zone starts after Turn 9 and the flowy bit before that is also essentially a straight with drivers probably lifting just a bit at the most. Although slipstream may not be as effective in that short distance, it can help get closer and also set the car up for the perfect angle of attack in the DRS zone, at the end of which not only is it important to complete the overtake but do it a bit comfortably and before the end of the straight as well, as the what can be called as a technical section starts after that.
There are two main reasons for a need of an overtake a bit before the end of the DRS zone. Firstly, since it gets so tight and turny, it is risky to leave it till the turn as it can lead to a failed overtake and also a potential crash. Secondly, some time spent in fresh air extending that overtaking advantage will help keep it through that section as it leads to another long straight with an equally good overtaking opportunity, except that the next straight requires a car to have a good steer in, preferably even some oversteer.
The section of consecutive turns from Turn 11 to 16 is very compact and creates a possibility of if not a major costly error in terms of a spin or a crash but atleast some loss of time not only in that section but from potential damage over a kerb which can impact the whole next straight. It is a section that will actually test the controls and the alertness of the drivers as well as the cars.
The next straight not only is a good simply straight straight but in the race also provides an opportunity for the one who got passed in the previous DRS zones to repass the other driver as not much could be possibly be gained in the technical turny section and the straight in itself provides not just DRS through the second half but a good slipstream opportunity which good become a tactic in the qualifying as well.
After that is the tight 17, which requires a lot of car compliance, after that it is a Mexico kind of turn into the Start – Finish straight. Over here, there is the possibility of some increase in gap between two drivers after the DRS Detection Zone.
THE PITLANE
The entry to the pitlane is well identifiable and the pitlane in itself is well straight but the exit goes round and then sees the driver exit on the racing line which will be an interesting line of potentially cold tyres. It could allow to defend position and also possibly lead to some unfortunate slip – ups during out laps. There is also a chicane type section in the pitlane which can catch drivers out.
All in all, this is a track with several interesting elements and one where those who can throw the car around to its limits in a controlled manner will benefit a lot over those who like to calibrate a bit more potentially. Downforce level choices could be just a tad bit tricky.
|TIME TO GO QUICK IN MIAMI|
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