Formula One race director Niels Wittich has ordered adjustments to the Miami track ahead of qualifying – kerbs removed in pit lane chicane
Organisers of the Miami Formula One Grand Prix have made a second attempt to resurface the problematic Turn 17 overnight. As a further change, the FIA has decided to remove the two kerbs at the chicane by the pit entry and replace them with bollards.
The problems with the track surface first appeared on Thursday, even before the track was properly in operation, during the safety car test runs. Damage occurred at both turn 17, the hairpin before the start and finish straight, and turn 7, the tighter left-hand turn on the outside of the fake marina.
In both cases it was thought to be a known problem with the surface at these points, so there was no fear that other parts of the track would also be affected. The problem areas were resurfaced on Thursday evening in time for Friday’s practice session.
On Friday evening, however, it was decided to make a second attempt to resurface turn 17 and at the same time carry out additional work on the exit of the turn, which had not been tackled previously.
In an updated version of his race director’s notes sent out to the teams on Saturday morning, Niels Wittich reported, “The apex and exit of turn 17 have been resurfaced. “
Edge stones of the pit lane chicane removed
The chicane at the pit entrance, with its two tight corners and high kerbs, was also a point of discussion before the weekend. Formula 1’s timing system was originally set up so that the 80 km/h speed limit starts at the beginning of the correct pit lane entrance and therefore after the chicane.
After track inspections on Thursday, however, race director Wittich decided to move the start of the speed limit to the front, just before the chicane, for safety reasons. This was to prevent the drivers from trying to drive the chicane over the limit.
However, there were still concerns about safety and the possibility of a driver hitting the high kerbs awkwardly and crashing into the pit wall on the left, especially on Sunday in race conditions.
After a discussion in the drivers’ meeting, it was therefore decided to remove the kerbs before Saturday’s qualifying. In his notes Wittich says: “The kerbs at the pit entrance were removed and replaced by a bollard at each apex. “
