F1 Miami GP track breakdown: Inside the NFL stadium circuit with a South Beach feel

Every Formula One race has its own identity. And many circuits have their 'thing' – some widely known feature you won't find anywhere else.
Monaco is known for the Nouvelle Chicane, Turns 10 and 11 right in front of the port, while Spa features Eau Rouge, one of F1's most notorious corners. Then, fans come to Miami, which starkly contrasts with the Americanism of the stars and stripes at Austin's Circuit of the Americas.
Advertisement
When first developing this GP, race organizers hoped to run the track in downtown Miami, an oceanside answer to Monaco's famed layout. That didn't work out, so we've got a track built around the Hard Rock Stadium, home of the Miami Dolphins. But building the Miami International Autodrome a dozen miles from South Beach didn't keep race organizers from importing bits of color that offer that 'Miami feel.'
And so we've got the fake marina and vibrant aqua color reminiscent of the Dolphins.
'We have been very committed to, from the beginning, the brand of Miami,' Miami Grand Prix president Tyler Epp said in 2023. 'We're going to create Miami as the lens for which people are viewing the race.'
Here's what you need to know about the F1 circuit built around an NFL stadium in the Sunshine State.
Miami's temporary track was selected from more than 30 proposed layouts but received mixed reviews during its inaugural season in 2022. Most drivers criticized the track surface, and some were unimpressed by various points. The circuit has the same layout as previous seasons, with just a few tweaks here and there in 2024 that included a much-needed resurfacing.
Here are a few key points that fans should keep an eye on.
Turns 13 to 16 (A)
Daniel Ricciardo described this chicane as 'a little too Mickey Mouse' in 2022, which tells you all you need to know about it. It's slow and narrow as the cars file under the turnpike. (Regulations put a speed limit around overhead features, which is why the chicane exists.) Last year, Max Verstappen struck a bollard in this section.
Turn 16 to 17 (B)
At the end of the long straight, drivers face another prime overtaking spot with the tight left-hander of Turn 17, which is right near the Dolphins' practice fields. It's key to remember that there were only 45 overtakes throughout the 2022 Miami Grand Prix and 41 in 2024.
Advertisement
Turn 11 (C)
This is a braking zone before hitting the accelerator into Turn 12. The left-hander is poised to be a good overtaking spot and a potential litmus test for one issue sucking up oxygen ahead of this race: just how possible it is to pass.
Turns 6-7-8 (D)
This sequence is right in front of the MIA Marina (aka faux marina, which has some actual water now). Pierre Gasly, who describes himself as 'the type of guy to like Miami,' said he enjoyed the fast nature of this sequence.
But this portion came into the spotlight in 2022 when Gasly and Lando Norris collided as the Frenchman went around the outside of the McLaren during Turn 8. It ended both of their races as Norris spun and Gasly retired a few laps later.
The track was resurfaced after drivers slammed it in 2022 for offering poor grip and even breaking up at points. Former Red Bull driver Sergio Pérez called the surface 'a joke,' and Fernando Alonso derided it as 'not F1 standard.' Epp said they 'really leaned on our partners at Tilke to make sure that we're doing this properly.'
On the lighter side, the faux marina now features a couple of pools with actual water.
Also, a few safety tweaks were made after conversations with the drivers' council, F1, and the FIA, notably around Turns 13 through 16, which take drivers under the turnpike. That's where Carlos Sainz and Esteban Ocon crashed during practice sessions in 2022, each hitting a stretch of wall that wasn't protected by the force-absorbing Tecpro barriers. After hitting the concrete with 51Gs of force, Ocon called the setup 'unacceptable.'
The track also featured a rumble strip on the left for Turn 14, and the apex of Turn 15 was a bit elongated, both of which should help drivers navigate the section.
Ahead of the 2023 race, two DRS zones were shortened in Miami. But the drivers didn't seem to get why, especially given the low number of overtakes during the 2022 race.
Advertisement
'I think all of us didn't really understand why they've been shortened. None of us were consulted about it or asked our opinion on it, and I think the race speaks for itself in Baku,' Mercedes' George Russell said in 2023. 'DRS is there to aid overtaking, and it's always exciting when you've got these big DRS advantages, and it gives you the opportunity to fight, and clearly, in Baku, it was way too short.'
Ferrari's Charles Leclerc agreed. 'I think with the cars that we have at the moment, it's still quite difficult to follow,' he said. 'Hopefully, in the future races, we won't shorten them.'
(Track video courtesy of EA Sports F1 — learn more about 'F1 25″ here.)
(Graphics: Drew Jordan/The Athletic. Lead image: Cristiano Barni ATP Images, Dan Isitene – Formula 1 via Getty Images; Design: Drew Jordan/The Athletic)

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

Newsweek

10 hours ago

• Newsweek

Shane Van Gisbergen Takes Jab at Red Bull Over Liam Lawson Demotion

Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. NASCAR driver Shane van Gisbergen made a joke about Red Bull Racing's brutal driver handlings. Gisbergen got his maiden win in Mexico over the past weekend after struggling in his first full-time NASCAR Cup Series season. He only made the top ten once in the first 15 races. He struggled to adapt to the ovals that feature so prominently in the American racing series. Shane Van Gisbergen, driver of the #88 Safety Culture Chevrolet, celebrates after winning the NASCAR Cup Series Viva Mexico 250 at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez on June 15, 2025 in Mexico City, Mexico. Shane Van Gisbergen, driver of the #88 Safety Culture Chevrolet, celebrates after winning the NASCAR Cup Series Viva Mexico 250 at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez on June 15, 2025 in Mexico City, Mexico. Photo byGisbergen - a New Zealander sponsored by Red Bull - started in pole position in the Mexico City Cup Series race. His win was anything but smooth; he battled shifting conditions due to the inconsistent rain and a never-ending series of caution flags. Despite all of the challenges, Gisbergen managed to pull off the win, staying calm, cool, and collected throughout the race. After his landmark win, he thanked Trackhouse Racing for their continued support of him despite his struggles. He made a cheeky remark about the support he received during his downturn in form, comparing it to what Red Bull offered fellow New Zealander Liam Lawson. "I'm glad I didn't drive for Red Bull F1 after how the first few rounds went," van Gisbergen joked after the race. "[Team boss] Justin [Marks] has been amazing, supporting me and just giving me all the time I need and not putting pressure on [me]. It's been really cool." Red Bull's F1 team decided to axe Lawson after only two races, a drastic decision that followed a series of underwhelming results. When Lawson made an Instagram post back in March about his removal from Red Bull, van Gisbergen left a message under the post saying, "Prove em Wrong!" The 36-year-old New Zealander mentored his fellow countryman and backed Lawson through different racing series. While trying to make it in America, van Gisbergen still monitored Lawson's progress. "The way he's gotten to F1 has been a little difficult the last couple of years. But seeing him get this opportunity full-time now, I'm just stoked and so proud," he said back in December. "You've got to be versatile, which is something I've always tried to do by driving a bunch of different cars. It helps you when it comes to something new in the setup, something technical, or even with the weather changing. You've got to be able to adapt straight away. "Liam's been exceptional at that. Even when F1 wasn't working out, he did DTM and other racing that I think has really helped him."

Yahoo

11 hours ago

• Yahoo

Daniel Ricciardo Comes Out of ‘Retirement' to Launch a Business in Texas

Daniel Ricciardo Comes Out of 'Retirement' to Launch a Business in Texas originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Daniel Ricciardo is back but not in the way you'd expect. The Formula 1 fan favorite has traded the paddock for the parking lot, launching a bold new business venture: Dabble Dan's Tailgate Party in Austin, Texas. Advertisement Partnering with Australian betting company Dabble, Ricciardo is fronting a unique competition that will fly one lucky winner and a guest from any major UK airport to the United States for a full-blown American football weekend in September. The prize includes flights, three nights' accommodation, VIP tickets to the tailgate party, and a personal meet-and-greet with Ricciardo himself. 'I've given retirement a crack, but it's not for me,' Ricciardo announced on Instagram. 'So, I've teamed up with the legends at Dabble to start a tailgate business… Check it out at Daniel Ricciardo before the F1 Miami Grand Casey-Imagn Images In a video on the website, Ricciardo explained: 'Bit of golf, a bit of gardening, caught up on sleep… but then I got that itch. I missed the buzz. The energy, That's when it hit me—it was time I chased my true passion.' Advertisement The new project comes months after Ricciardo was officially dropped from F1 following the 2024 Singapore Grand Prix. His last stint with Racing Bulls (formerly AlphaTauri) failed to reignite his racing career after a challenging run with McLaren and a year as Red Bull's reserve driver. Whether this signals a permanent shift away from racing or just another Ricciardo-style detour remains to be seen. But one thing is clear—retirement for Dan isn't about slowing down. It's about firing up the grill, turning up the music, and turning parking lots into party zones. Related: Lewis Hamilton's Brutal Handicap Exposed as Ferrari Struggles Mount This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 21, 2025, where it first appeared.

Bloomberg

12 hours ago

• Bloomberg

How Bruckheimer Made the F1 Movie Despite Intense Real-Life Rivalries

Hannah Elliott here, and I've got a disclaimer for you: This is not a movie review. I'm not here to critique the dialogue, the character development or the perfunctory love connection in F1: The Movie, in theaters on June 27. I didn't go in looking for chitchat. I wanted racing. That's what I got. Starring Brad Pitt, Damson Idris and Javier Bardem, the film shines brightest when it's speaking to those who don't think they're into motor sports while winking at those of us who do. (Our film critic said it made her feel like a Formula One fan.)