The state of the asphalt in several turns worries drivers in Miami

The seduction operation of the Formula 1 in Florida was ticking like a Swiss clock. The marketing events reached a new population, the public came in large numbers to the Miami circuit from the free practice sessions on Friday, the sun was out... but one subject became worrying for the drivers at the end of FP2: the 'asphalt.

In a sport as technologically advanced as F1, this may seem trivial, but the condition of the track is a crucial aspect to ensure a quality Grand Prix. In Miami, R3 experts installed a coating composed of limerock and granite, intended to provide an innovative surface.

Welcome to Miami International Autodrome 📍@Charles_Leclerc is your guide to the latest track on the calendar!#MiamiGP #F1 @ f1miami pic.twitter.com/wH38NqrECz

- Formula 1 (@ F1) May 7, 2022

Indeed, the limerock extracted from the state of Georgia is supposed to be more abrasive than the other products affixed to recent F1 tracks. Problem: limerock is not often used in F1 because it can crumble and polish over the course of the single-seaters, as explained by the Apex agency, in charge of the design of the Miami International Autodrome.

“As a result, tire degradation is generally not good and grip is reduced. But, in South Florida, the predominant aggregate is a more abrasive limerock.", declared Sam Worthy, the Project Director, ahead of the weekend.

ALSO READ > Liberty Media “promoter” of Grands Prix? To prepare for the future…

The beautiful speech did not last a day. Indeed, large white patches appeared on several places on the circuit late Friday afternoon. Pilots like Lando Norris (McLaren) complained of a glaring lack of grip in certain corners.

“It’s extremely complicated. Some areas are bumpy, which isn't really what we expected. Everyone thought the track was going to be very smooth and beautiful, but that's not the case. 

The surface is also difficult to control. You go off the line, no matter where on the circuit, and it's game-over. You then start sliding and end up in the wall. It's dead end. This is why we saw some drivers finish testing outside (Carlos Sainz Jr., Valtteri Bottas).

The other resident of the McLaren team, Daniel Ricciardo, tried to analyze the damage on the tarmac. “It looks like the gravel from the asphalt is coming loose and making the track slippery. If you slightly miss the ideal line, then you slide and it's difficult to catch up with the car. »

The sole manufacturer of F1, Pirelli, confirms his words. Even more worrying, Mario Isola, the head of Competition for the Italian company, does not see any improvements despite the makeshift work carried out on Thursday and Friday evening. “ With this new tarmac, the workers already had to lay new asphalt patches before free practice on Thursday evening. But there are still stones coming off because we found stones on the tires at the end of Friday's session.

ALSO READ > Hamilton plays provocation and refuses to remove his jewelry

I don't know what will happen during the rest of the weekend. The condition of the track will remain more or less as it is now, but if they remove stones (from the surface of the track. Editor's note), these small stones will fly as the cars pass, and when you pass on this strip you will lose some grip. »

The risk of this unexpected deterioration in the quality of the tarmac is the absence of spectacle during the race. “I have the feeling that these will not be great conditions to have a lively Grand Prix, continues Lando Norris. There is only one possible trajectory, and you must stick to it. It's very restrictive, you can't tell the difference from other drivers. You are limited in what you can accomplish. »

At Red Bull, we think the same thing. “It's really disappointing because there is no grip anywhere other than on the line, concludes Sergio Pérez. It's a real shame because I think the intensity of the fight in the race will be low because of this. »

These problems are extremely reminiscent of the poor condition of the surface of the Gilles-Villeneuve circuit in Montreal during the 2008 edition of the Canadian Grand Prix. As in Miami, strips of asphalt had been urgently patched before the race but the repeated passage of cars had still significantly damaged the tarmac in the turns, preventing the drivers from carrying out attacks outside the racing line.

The asphalt was in tatters at the 2008 Canadian GP. © DPPI