It’s lights out and away we go with 7-time #F1 world champion Sir @LewisHamilton in Times Square!
The racing legend talks about the “booming” popularity of #Formula1 in the U.S. ahead of the inaugural #MiamiGP! 🏁🏎 https://t.co/kWY5S6eOU4 pic.twitter.com/7S2MFNS164
— Good Morning America (@GMA) May 2, 2022
Seven-time F1 world champion Lewis Hamilton was a guest on Good Morning America this week to talk about Miami and said:
“It’s a bit nerve-racking because it’s going to be such huge event for us. We obviously have the race in Austin, Texas, which has always been amazing. The first race I had out here was Indianapolis in 2007. But now with the Netflix series Drive to Survive growing, now we have two grands prix in the States and then we have another one in Vegas next year. So it’s going to be huge.”
McLaren driver Daniel Ricciardo recently jointed Trevor Noah on The Daily Show ahead of the Miami Grand Prix, and the Australian racer, who famously loves racing in the U.S. at COTA, showed his excitement the newest American race. But he also explained the challenges for F1 drivers of a new track and how, like many other racers, they rely on simulators to prepare.
“Getting to a new circuit, [it] gives you a chance to maybe catch onto something a little quicker than someone else, so it can maybe create a bigger separation for the ones that click and maybe the ones that struggle a bit more,” Ricciardo said.
So far has been a great week, can’t wait to hit the track tomorrow.
Thanks to all the fans, specially the latino community for your support.#MiamiGP pic.twitter.com/4LJiXCw0Ji— Sergio Pérez (@SChecoPerez) May 6, 2022
Yeah. I like it here 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/orP6bTQ4dW
— Lando Norris (@LandoNorris) May 4, 2022
🌶🇺🇸 Good morning Miami!! I’m sure all of you guys are enjoying the fuss around the GP!! Now it’s finally time to hit the track!!
–#Carlossainz pic.twitter.com/1zpLpLZaVI
— Carlos Sainz (@Carlossainz55) May 6, 2022
Lesssgo MIAMI 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/9MW3Si2JmT
— Lando Norris (@LandoNorris) May 4, 2022
F1 Miami Grand Prix scenic views taken on Tuesday, April 19, 2022 in Miami Gardens, Fla. (Mary Holt/F1 Miami Grand Prix)
The venue is in Miami Gardens, nearly encircles Hard Rock Stadium and includes much of the stadium’s surrounding parking area. But the Miami Grand Prix is not technically at Hard Rock. It’s the Miami International Autodrome.
The circuit wraps around three of the four sides of Hard Rock Stadium and through the adjacent Miami Open tennis courts. It’s 5.41 kilometers long, or about 3.36 miles, and it features 19 turns, three straights and three DRS zones. It also has an estimated top speed of 320 kilometers per hour, or about 199 miles per hour, and the race is 57 laps.
FIA’s Head of Vehicle Performance, Craig Wilson, said, via F1:
“The best overtaking spots will almost certainly be at the end of the DRS zones – most likely Turns 11 and 17, with a more uncertain chance at Turn 1. On the first lap, or after Safety Car restarts, we may see some overtaking into Turn 4 if cars are racing through the first three corners.”
Miami is ready for its F1 debut 🤩#MiamiGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/2il0IvEa1i
— Formula 1 (@F1) May 4, 2022
After initially eyeing downtown Miami for this race, it ended up about 16 miles north of that area. And to perfect the ideal layout for the circuit, F1 and Apex Circuit Design created 36 different simulations before deciding on the current 19-turn track. More via F1:
“You could walk around the top deck of the stadium and see every corner on the race track – and that’s pretty unique,” said Tom Garfinkel, Vice-Chairman, President & CEO, Hard Rock Stadium.
You may have heard about this before… Because Miami Gardens is so north of Miami and not particularly close to the coastline, event organizers had to get a bit creative in order to still have some type of marina/beach vibe at the race. So a fake marina was created, “filled” with fake water and dry-docked yachts.
The Yachts at MIA Marina taken on Sunday, May 1, 2022 in Miami Gardens, Fla. (Hiro Ueno/F1 Miami Grand Prix)
The location and event may be playing up all the glitz and glam this weekend, but this idea leaves a lot to be desired. But it’s hilarious nonetheless.
ʀᴇᴀᴅʏ ғᴏʀ ᴍɪᴀᴍɪ 🌴🦩
This is one of my favorite helmet designs up to now and I can’t wait to take it out on track 🤩 🚀
More info on this helmet and the special collection 👉 https://t.co/g5UMk96nhi pic.twitter.com/CrVJ86p9OZ
— Max Verstappen (@Max33Verstappen) May 3, 2022
Miami spec 🤤🌴#MiamiGP pic.twitter.com/J3oJffUADF
— BWT Alpine F1 Team (@AlpineF1Team) May 5, 2022
🏖️🏀🕶 Whasssup MIAMI! pic.twitter.com/fkLhaIpBPM
— 周冠宇 | Zhou Guanyu 🇨🇳 (@ZhouGuanyu24) May 5, 2022
Not 1 but 3.. because it’s Miami 🇺🇸
Designs: @tiffanycromwell #VB77 #F1 #MiamiGP @socios @StiloOfficial @alfaromeoorlen pic.twitter.com/17KgkWcwxC
— Valtteri Bottas (@ValtteriBottas) May 6, 2022
Not long until we see it out on track 🙌#HaasF1 #MiamiGP pic.twitter.com/hOaq8rHvNs
— Haas F1 Team (@HaasF1Team) May 6, 2022
Good morning from…🌴☀️
You already know 😎#essereFerrari🔴 #MiamiGP pic.twitter.com/vNTV2AmBk3
— Scuderia Ferrari (@ScuderiaFerrari) May 5, 2022
The #MiamiGP starts here! ☀️🌴 pic.twitter.com/zfqAVk9Jgd
— Alfa Romeo F1 Team ORLEN (@alfaromeoorlen) May 5, 2022
New design!! #MSC47 pic.twitter.com/z3w1olDoiT
— Mick Schumacher (@SchumacherMick) May 6, 2022
Miami ☀️🏝 pic.twitter.com/Hx0tLcYTBX
— Lewis Hamilton (@LewisHamilton) May 6, 2022
🐬 @MiamiDolphins pic.twitter.com/AK4JnRplMb
— Valtteri Bottas (@ValtteriBottas) May 5, 2022
Daniel Ricciardo’s Ace Ventura: Pet Detect