New Times ADVeRTisiNG sUPPLemeNT MIAMI RACE WEEK 2024 GUiDe May 2-8, 2024 5 TURNS 9–11 Track Preview MIA’s first big straight is not really a straight, but more a 0.86-mile, snaking almost straight that runs from T8 all the way to T11. There’s a DRS zone here too, with activation just after Turn 9, making 11 a choice overtaking point. Any action? In 2022, while battling on Lap 56, Kevin Magnussen collided with Lance Stroll and had to retire with one lap to go in the race. Last year, during Verstappen’s march from P9 to victory, T11 was one of the Dutch driver’s favored overtaking spots. On Lap 14 he got past Sainz here under DRS to take P3 and then put the same move on Alonso on the following lap to take P2. TURNS 12–15 Track Preview A series of low-speed bends as the track winds through the offramps for the Florida Turnpike. This is the track’s most technical section, where fans can really see the drivers at work and where drivers will moan about the low speeds. Any action? During FP2 in 2022, Sainz crashed his Ferrari into the wall after exiting Turn 13. TURNS 16–19 Track Preview This zone is one for the speed freaks. Out of Turn 16, the track opens up into a 0.8-mile- long straightaway. Cars will reach speeds in excess of 200 mph in this second DRS zone and then brake hard for Turn 17. For this year, the pit entrance has been moved farther downstream toward Turn 19, which could slightly reduce pit-loss times. Any action? Absolutely. This is MIA’s second prime overtaking spot. In 2022, on Lap 50, Hamilton and then George Russell passed Valtteri Bottas when he went wide on Turn 17. Last year, on Lap 8, Verstappen, late on the brakes, passed Russell in the braking zone into T17 and then repeated the move on Gasly on the next lap to take P4 on his way to victory. Setup guide Miami is a track that imposes two conflicting demands. In the early part of the lap, the fast sweeps from Turn 1 to Turn 8 require good levels of downforce to maximize grip and lap time. The same is true of the twisty bits in the stretch from Turn 11 to Turn 16. However, the two massive straights that link those sections reward cars that aren’t draggy. Those demands are not compatible, so finding the perfect setup at the MIA is a tough balancing act. Strategy guide The Miami GP debuted in 2022 with a freshly surfaced circuit that proved to be a rather slippery customer. The event came back last year to a new, grippier grade of asphalt, but the race strategies remained largely unchanged. Miami is a one-stop race, with the most common approach being to start the race with a medium tire and switch to a hard tire at about one-third race distance (last year, between Laps 14 and 24). For drivers starting farther back and out-of-position, the reverse, hard-medium approach has also worked. Max Verstappen has won both ways. The only tire that hasn’t proved popular is the soft compound. Only Alpine’s Esteban Ocon, finishing ninth last year, has scored points racing on a soft tire. What bearing does this have on the 2024 race? So far this year, strategies have largely replicated 2023, so another medium-hard race is likely. The wildcard is the Sprint format and its unique tire rules. Teams may be out of new medium tires by race day and if so, would have to run a used set. This is unlikely to change anyone’s strategic thinking, but it might open a wider pit-stop window. first lap to take P2. Last year, after a tight tussle through the final corners of the previous lap, Verstappen got past Sergio Pérez here on Lap 48 to take the lead for good. TURNS 2 & 3 Track Preview Not a lot to write home about here. This left-right complex will see drivers hard on the throttle building up speed all the way to Turn 6. Any action? Only if you like seeing drivers get the hammer down and put energy through tires on the long curve of Turn 3. TURNS 4–8 Track Preview Drivers’ speeds just build—from 90 mph in Turn 2 to 180 by the time they reach Turn 4—so the shifts in balance as drivers go left in four and right in five look pretty dramatic. The section from Turn 5 to Turn 8 is really a long, continuous arc and should put strain on both man and machine. Any action? In 2022, Pierre Gasly went wide in Turn 8 and smashed into Norris. Last year, Leclerc crashed spectacularly in Q3 at Turn 7 to bring out the red flags. 11 12 14 15 16 13 RED BULL ENERGY STATION BEACH CLUB SOUTH BEACH GRANDSTAND NORTH BEACH GRANDSTAND
