Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez have voiced optimism about the circuit layout for the upcoming Miami Grand Prix.
After plenty of hurdles, Formula 1 finally holds its first race in Florida since 1959 next weekend at a temporary track built in the parking lots around the Hard Rock Stadium.
In the planning stage, 75 different designs were initially considered with 36 being simulated before the eventual final layout was determined.
Ahead of the inaugural event, Perez visited Miami as part of a promotional video for Red Bull and turned a few laps of the circuit during construction.
#TBT to @SChecoPerez and @redbullracing’s early look of the Miami International Autodrome ?
Just one more race until the real #RaceToMiami! ? @redbullmotors pic.twitter.com/n4HPCf9mZL
— F1 Miami Grand Prix (@f1miami) April 21, 2022
“I don’t want to give anything away because there are some drivers here, but it was a good production!” he said via GPFans.
“It’s a good circuit. It has a bit of a twisty area that is quite difficult to get right and the visibility can be difficult but I think racing could be good with all those long straights.
“I just hope the asphalt can be good and we can have some good racing because when we come to new circuits we have some surprises.”
Get to know the Miami International Autodrome ??? #MiamiGP pic.twitter.com/pHrcJT8X77
— F1 Miami Grand Prix (@f1miami) April 12, 2022
Valtteri Bottas’ preparation has been slightly more conventional with plenty of laps in Alfa Romeo’s simulator, but the Finn is equally confident of an exciting spectacle.
“I did some proper running in the sim and what was nice to see was that it seems to be a really good track for overtaking,” he said.
“The way the track has been planned, from my side, looks positive. It should be good racing. Pretty long straights and a couple of really good overtaking opportunities.
“Let’s see how it is in real life but on paper, it looks good and I am sure that as an event it’s going to be pretty amazing.”