Formula 1 makes its third visit to Hard Rock Stadium for the Miami GP in 2024, so F1 Oversteer looks at what teams tend to fare well at the home of the Miami Dolphins.
The car parks and roads encircling Hard Rock Stadium have played host to Formula 1 since 2022. F1 and the promoters of the Miami GP utilise the infrastructure for the stadium of the NFL franchise, Miami Dolphins, to create a temporary, 19-corner circuit across 5.4km (3.3m).
Miami Dolphins and Hard Rock Stadium vice-chairman, Tom Garfinkel, landed the Miami GP a spot on the F1 calendar with a 10-year contract in 2022. Formula 1 had strived to secure a race in the city in Florida since 2019. F1 also initially wanted its event to be near PortMiami.
Red Bull won the first Miami GP with Max Verstappen in 2022
Formula 1 wheels finally hit the temporary tarmac for the maiden Miami GP in May 2022. It also saw Ferrari star Charles Leclerc secure the first pole position at Hard Rock Stadium with a 1:28.796 lap. But Max Verstappen won Red Bull the first Miami GP over the Monegasque.
Verstappen took the chequered flag 3.786 seconds in front of Leclerc following a late safety car period. Race control neutralised the event after Lando Norris and Pierre Gasly touched on Lap 41. Verstappen had passed Leclerc on Lap 9/57 as the latter struggled with his tyres.
Red Bull and Verstappen also returned to the top step of the Miami GP podium when Hard Rock Stadium welcomed Formula 1 back in May 2023. The Dutchman doubled up on Grand Prix wins in Florida after charging up through the field from P9 on the grid to win by 5.384s.
Red Bull are the most successful F1 team at the Miami GP
Verstappen’s triumphs make Red Bull the only Formula 1 team to win a Miami Grand Prix so far. He left Florida victorious in 2022 and 2023 but is yet to take a pole position at Hard Rock Stadium ahead of the 2024 race. Sergio Perez secured Red Bull pole for the 2023 Miami GP.
Leclerc spinning in Q3 scuppered Verstappen after the Dutchman aborted his provisional run after a snap at Turn 5. The Red Bull racer sought to go again at the end of the session but his Ferrari rival lost control of his car at T4. Leclerc’s spin into the barriers sparked the red flags.
Qualifying for the 2023 Miami GP did not resume after Leclerc’s spin to see Perez claim pole position. But Verstappen charged through the field and made light work of overtaking Perez for the lead after managing his tyres better than his Red Bull teammate during the first stint.
Honda are the most successful engine manufacturer at the Miami GP
Red Bull winning the Miami Grand Prix in 2022 and 2023 with Verstappen also make Honda the most successful engine provider at Hard Rock Stadium. The Japanese automotive giants provided the team from Milton Keynes with their 1.6L turbo-hybrid power units both times.
Officially, however, Formula 1 registered Verstappen’s win at the 2022 Miami GP as using a Red Bull Powertrains engine. Honda produced and developed the engine in the Dutchman’s car. But Red Bull took ownership of naming the units after Honda briefly withdrew from F1.
The post What F1 teams do well at Miami GP with Red Bull successful at Hard Rock Stadium appeared first on F1 Oversteer.