The dreaded word ‘boring’ is reappearing in Formula One’s lexicon after a season so far dominated by defending champions Red Bull, so it is perhaps timely that the championship comes to Miami this week.
Last year’s inaugural Miami Grand Prix got the sport buzzing in the United States, with celebrities and socialites eager to see the stars of Netflix’s ‘Drive to Survive’ with mojitos in hand.
The impact of reality shows on the development of F1 in the US is well documented and this season sees three Grand Prix races in the country, with Las Vegas added to the calendar alongside the US Grand Prix in Austin, Texas .
But Americans are used to sports where rules and structures are put in place to prevent identical teams from dominating, especially with one of the great appeals of the NFL, and Red Bull’s current dominance is one the country is embracing. represents a clear risk for F1.
All four races in 2023 have been won by Red Bull with two wins each for reigning world champion and current championship leader Max Verstappen and his teammate Sergio Pérez.
After last week’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix, which saw Pérez atop the podium ahead of his Dutch teammate, Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff warned the race was about to get “boring”.
“It wasn’t going to be a thriller. Despite the big difference in speed and no overtaking it didn’t make for good entertainment… We need to see how we can avoid a boring race.”
Mercedes and Ferrari are struggling to match the Red Bull cars, with Aston Martin forming a chasing pack.
“We see a pattern. There are two Red Bulls, and then six cars, and the third division is far away. It has been the pattern for the first four races and we have to shake it up somehow,” said Wolff.
free to compete
Red Bull supremacy however includes competition of its own with Pérez free to compete with Verstappen with ‘team orders’ yet to rear his head and only the two separating the pair. There are six digits.
“They both want to win, which is why they have been hired by the team,” said Red Bull team principal Christian Horner.
“And I think it’s down to what they do on the track. They were free to race today and all year so far, they’ve been free.”
Horner said that would certainly remain the case until much later in the campaign.
“Yes, as long as the interests of the team, if you are competing against a competitor, do not outweigh the interests of the drivers. But, as it is at the moment, they are free to race,” he added .
Verstappen won last year’s race in Miami after a thrilling battle with Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, but there were complaints about the surface on the new track built around Hard Rock Stadium, home of the NFL’s Miami Dolphins.
Organizers have re-surfaced the entire track and the new material is expected to encourage overtaking but the track layout remains the same, including the tight chicane area.
There are also other changes to the venue in response to some teething problems from the first Grand Prix.
Most notably, some real ‘water features’ have been added to the ‘marina’ area, which drew plenty of social media mockery for the fake view of boats parked on blue plastic.
Another change is to the paddock area which was packed last year with VIP guests often getting in the way of team staff and mechanics.
The new set-up sees the paddock moved into the stadium on the football field itself where fans will be able to watch the go-on from the stands.
On the track, Miami fans will have a local favorite to cheer for this time, with Williams’ rookie American Logan Sargent, who was born and raised in South Florida, searching for his first points.
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(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed)