Miami GP boss open to improving circuit after Lewis Hamilton ‘B&Q car park’ jibe

Miami Grand Prix chief Tom Garfinkel anticipates changes will be made to Formula One’s newest circuit after Lewis Hamilton compared it to a B&Q car park.

Seven-time world champion Hamilton criticised the tight left-right chicane at Turns 14 and 15 of the purpose-built temporary layout which runs round the Hard Rock Stadium – home of NFL’s Miami Dolphins – and called for it to be removed.

Red Bull’s Sergio Perez also described the track surface – which incorporates private access roads – as a “joke”, and it is feared overtaking will be difficult in Sunday’s race because there is not enough grip off the racing line.

“We are evaluating some of the drivers’ comments to make sure we can improve, and we are open to changing whatever we need to do to make the track better,” said Garfinkel.

“I don’t know if we communicated well enough why the chicane exists. It was a necessary evil to slow the drivers down because we don’t have enough run-off space.

“But from talking to F1 and the FIA, there is an opportunity to change that and make it better.

“We are also evaluating the surface, and we want to make that right, and make changes if needed.

We are evaluating some of the drivers’ comments to make sure we can improve, and we are open to changing whatever we need to do to make the track better.- Miami Grand Prix chief Tom Garfinkel

“If the drivers cannot go off the racing line, there is not going to be overtaking and that is not good because I want to have as much overtaking as possible.”

The first F1 race in Miami has courted criticism for for its eye-watering prices, with the cheapest tickets for Sunday’s grand prix starting at around £400.

But Garfinkel, chief executive of the Miami Dolphins, said the event will operate at a loss