Last Updated on May 3, 2024 7:09 pm by Erwin Noguera
The Formula 1 season returns this weekend to Miami, Florida, for the Miami GP. After taking a week off following the China Grand Prix, drivers and teams are eager to get back on track at the Hard Rock Stadium circuit.
Miami International Speedway surrounds the home of the Miami Dolphins NFL team and offers drivers some unique challenges. The track has slow technical sections, as well as several long straights where speeds exceed 200 mph. Overtaking opportunities will be plentiful, especially in the Turn 17 hairpin at the end of the back straight.
In last year’s race, Max Verstappen took the checkered flag ahead of Sergio Perez and Fernando Alonso. All eyes will be on the top teams and drivers to see if they can repeat or improve on their performances.
The Circuit: Miami International Autodrome
The Grand Prix of Miami takes place on a new street circuit within the Hard Rock Stadium campus in Miami Gardens, Florida. The 5.41 km track was designed specifically for Formula 1 using computer simulations and features 19 turns, 3 straights (3 DRS zones), and an estimated top speed of 320 km/h (200 mph).
The layout incorporates some of the characteristics of traditional F1 circuits and, at the same time, has a unique design that suits the location. There are some high-speed corners inspired by Silverstone, as well as some tighter sections similar to Monaco. One of the highlights of the track is a banked curved section at Turn 17, which rises to 19 degrees and will allow drivers to run multiple racing lines.
The circuit surface is smooth asphalt, and the 15-meter track width is suited to F1 cars. The site is built with racing in mind, including large asphalt run-off areas, debris fencing, and a pit construction complex. As a street circuit, the track passes through Hard Rock Stadium, around a man-made lake, and through campus parking lots.
2024 Miami GP – Favorites
Red Bull is the clear favorite heading into the Miami Grand Prix after dominating the last few races. Max Verstappen has won two races in a row and has a commanding lead in the drivers’ championship. His teammate Sergio Perez sits second in the standings, giving Red Bull a strong 1-2 punch.
Ferrari hopes to bounce back in Miami after a disappointing Chinese Grand Prix. Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz Jr. are third and fourth in the drivers’ championship but have been unable to match Red Bull’s pace in recent races. Ferrari is bringing some upgrades to its car in Miami and needs them to work if it wants to get back into contention for wins.
McLaren currently sits third in the constructors’ championship ahead of Ferrari after a strong start to the F1 season. Lando Norris scored his second podium of the year in China and is looking to consolidate McLaren’s position near the front of the grid.
Format: Sprint
The Grand Prix of Miami will feature the sprint race format introduced in 2021 to add excitement to race weekends. In this format, the typical weekend schedule is revised to include a sprint race on Saturday.
Friday, May 3
Practice 1 – 12:30 ET
Sprint Shootout – 16:30 ET
Saturday, May 4
Sprint – noon ET (19 laps)
Qualification (Pole Position) – 16:00 ET
Sunday, May 5
Race – 16:00 ET (57 laps)
Remember that points are given in the Sprint Race, and we will show you the distribution below:
1st place – 8 Pts
2nd place – 7 Pts
3rd place – 6 Pts
4th place – 5 Pts
5th place – 4 Pts
6th place – 3 Pts
7th place – 2 Pts
8th place – 1 Pts
2024 Miami GP Betting Odds
When:
Sunday, May 5, 2024
Where can I watch it?
ESPN
Betting Odds:
Verstappen, Max 1.14
Perez, Sergio 12.00
Leclerc, Charles 19.00
Norris, Lando 21.00
Sainz Jr, Carlos 21.00
Hamilton, Lewis 41.00
Russell, George 41.00
Piastri, Oscar 50.00
Alonso, Fernando 80.00
Magnussen, Kevin 100.00
Stroll, Lance 100.00
Ocón, Esteban 100.00
Sargeant, Logan 100.00
Albon, Alexander 100.00
Gasly, Pierre 100.00
Ricciardo, Daniel 100.00
Tsunoda, Yuki 100.00
Zhou, Guanyu 100.00
Hulkenberg, Niko 100.00
Bottas, Valtteri 100.00
Betting Picks
With the season already underway, Red Bull and Max Verstappen look like the clear favorites to take the win in Miami. Verstappen has won two of the last three races, and there is no doubt that he looks infinitely superior to the rest of the field. The Red Bull car has shown dominant pace so far this year, with Verstappen capable of qualifying laps when necessary to take pole position.
Barring reliability issues or incidents, Verstappen should be able to take pole position and turn it into a win at the Miami GP. The performance advantage of the Red Bull car, coupled with Verstappen’s ability to deliver consistently fast lap times when needed, make him a clear favorite to be on the top step of the podium. Leclerc and the Ferraris will push him, but Verstappen has shown he can withstand the pressure and beat them on race day.
On the other hand, Serbian “Checo” Perez may use all the support of the Latin fans, considering the large number of Mexican and Latin American communities in Miami to have the impetus to re-sign a 1-2 for Red Bull this season.
Finally, we can say that our prediction for the 2024 Miami GP is as follows:
1st Place: Max Verstappen
2nd Place: Sergio Perez
3rd Place: Charles Leclerc
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