Pirelli talked about the features of the track in Miami.

      The first of three American stages of the season will take place this coming weekend when Formula 1 arrives in Miami. After a prolonged break caused by the cancellation of the races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, the championship returns to the street circuit in Florida.

      The Miami Grand Prix takes place on a track built around Hard Rock Stadium – the home arena of the American football team Miami Dolphins. The length of the lap, laid out on sections of city streets and parking lots around the stadium, is 5,412 meters, and in the race, drivers will have to complete 57 laps.

      The Miami International Autodrome, which debuted in Formula 1 in 2022, features 19 corners and three long straights. This weekend, teams will have access to the softest Pirelli tire compounds – C3, C4, and C5. The asphalt is relatively smooth after being resurfaced in 2023, and it becomes faster throughout the weekend as the racing line gets rubbered in.

      One of the interesting features of the track, which became apparent last year, is the asphalt that dries quickly. This was clearly demonstrated during the sprint when, despite heavy rain before the start, drivers switched from intermediate tires to slicks during the short race. Changeable weather could once again introduce an element of surprise.

      From a strategic standpoint, there are likely to be few surprises. Tire wear in Miami is traditionally low, allowing drivers to extend their stints and limit themselves to one pit stop. However, one must not forget the potential for safety car deployments, which is common for street circuits, as any mistake often ends with a meeting with the barrier.

      In the four races held in Miami, Max Verstappen has two victories, while the last two times the winners were drivers from McLaren. In 2024, Lando Norris celebrated his first victory in Formula 1, and the following year his teammate Oscar Piastri was the best. However, McLaren has yet to secure a pole position in Miami – Verstappen started from pole twice, while Charles Leclerc and Sergio Perez each did so once.

      On the podium of the fourth Grand Prix of the season, drivers will wear special caps created by Pirelli Design in collaboration with designer Denis Dekovich. Their design is inspired by the image of a marine predator – in shades of gray, the texture of shark skin can be discerned, and the stickers on the visor resemble either an open mouth or the silhouette of the shark itself.