Before the first impressions of F1 22 in a few days, we were able to taste, as a prelude to the first Miami Grand Prix this weekend, the Florida circuit via the future game from EA Sports/Codemasters, whose release is scheduled for the 1st next July.
The circuit is an « urban » layout typical of those of the new generation, embodied by Sochi, Hanoi (even if it has never been used) or of course Jeddah. Namely that the urban aspect does not necessarily transpire from the route itself, in any case not as pronounced as on other tracks such as Monaco, Singapore or even Baku. Or even a certain number of circuits traced in the years 1980-1990 in certain American cities.
For the needs of safety, show, practicality, the circuit now imposes itself on the city rather than the reverse, which was however one of the interesting aspects of competing in a race in the city. However, the track being largely traced around the Hard Rock Stadium, with portions built almost exclusively within this framework with the desire to be able to promote battles on the track via the design of the turns, there is nothing surprising.
Regarding the Miami International Autodrome in the F1 22 version, it can be broken down roughly into four phases which form a fairly standard specification for recent layouts. After the start/finish straight, which is short in itself, the first bend is a rather classic heavy braking that leads to a series of curves.
Screenshot of F1 22
Picture from: EA Sports
Screenshot of F1 22
Picture from: EA Sports
If turns 2 and 3 (the latter being a long curve to the right) are used to build speed, the sequence of turns 4-5-6 in which you have to throw yourself blind at the end of a slight stretch is reminiscent, in much shorter length, of the fast Esses sections of the beginnings of the tour in Jeddah or Austin. These three turns then lead to a curve to the left (turn 7) which leads to braking in support of turn 8, at the level of the famous marina; a portion whose dynamics, on the track, somewhat evoke that of turn 12 at Le Castellet or even turn 13 in Bahrain.
After this turn, we find again a very « djeddahesque » section, with a long winding full load (which is officially composed of two turns, 9 and 10) which offers the first DRS zone of the track before the heavy braking of turn 11 In terms of driving, the interest is very limited, but obviously the goal is above all to constitute an overtaking zone, at the end of which there is the heavy braking of turn 11.
Then comes the only slow section of the track, which starts coming out of the hairpin turn 11 with turn 12, a tight semi-circle to the right which, for those who have had the opportunity to try it on F1 2020 will be somewhat reminiscent of what Turn 8 of the Hanoi circuit should have been (this is not the only resemblance, unsurprisingly). It is immediately after that we come across the most astonishing portion of this track, in the « Formula E » style: like a hair in the soup, we find ourselves face to face, at the end of turn 13 where the urge is great to reaccelerate strongly after having been patient, with a suddenly much narrower track, approaching a small stretch quite steeply uphill at the top of which is a tight slow chicane, almost a pif-paf (bend 14-15), as if placed on the ridge, and whose sky is obstructed by the interchange under which the track winds at this place. In a generally flat, fast route with clear skies, it is a very atypical area.
Screenshot of F1 22
Picture from: EA Sports
It precedes turn 16, a slightly sloping left which determines the long return straight, the second DRS zone of the route, which leads to the heavy braking of turn 17. At the exit of the latter, two fast turns constitute, with the short start/finish straight, the full load which will again lead to turn 1, with the third DRS zone of the circuit which begins shortly before the timing line.
We’ll beware of judging the scenery too broadly, but Hard Rock Stadium is prominent in the background on many sections of the track, as are Miami’s famous palm trees. The marina is present, but with a real virtual water point.
Concerning the circuit as a whole, it is always very complicated to predict from a few laps on a virtual track what the race will be like, even if we have a feeling that the track was made for that. For the track itself over one lap, we will therefore be careful not to adopt too peremptory a judgment. The route is not devoid of areas of interest and clear overtaking areas (turns 1, 11, 17), it remains however very impersonal if we do not take into account what makes it its main attraction, namely its location. We perceive the will of the organizers to create a track which does not naturally direct towards such or such type of settings, remains that the high speed portions seem so numerous and, a priori, too little technical to really consider that there is an obvious divide in the choice of set-up. Obviously, in reality, the importance and difficulty of the winding section remains to be judged on the spot.
The Miami International Autodrome may give very good races, but in itself it seems to be the result of an initial compromise which tends to make it tick boxes. If we look at the latest circuit that hosted F1 for the first time, namely Jeddah, although it is maligned for many reasons – and one of the most important being the issue of track safety –, it has at least the advantage of adopting a clear philosophy and proposing a unique challenge. Last year, when Jeddah arrived in F1 2021 before the real Grand Prix took place, this feeling was already clear after a few laps; here, the feeling is that if the track was not located in Miami, its interest would be much less, at least on a flying lap.
We hope he will make us lie this Friday!
