Miami GP: F1's newest circuit gets mixed reviews from drivers as some call for surface change

The inaugural Miami Grand Prix is held later this evening as F1 races in the US for the first time this season and many are intrigued just to see what racing action is thrown up.

Ultimately, this is the biggest test of the event as, for all the glitz and glamour in the build-up, it’s the on-circuit action that will be remembered most of all and if the racing is good then we have a largely successful event.

With every new venue, hearing what the drivers think of it is always interesting and, whilst many have enjoyed driving around it and experiencing a brand new layout, some have also suggested that the surface of the track, which has got a lot of marbles off of the racing line, needs to be relaid ahead of 2023.

Let’s take a look at what some of the field has said this weekend about the circuit around the Hard Rock stadium…

Sergio Perez:

“Most importantly the circuit surface is a joke.

“The racing is going to be difficult. You’re going to have drivers making mistakes because we’ve been put in this situation.”

Fernando Alonso:

“It’s still very difficult to go off-line.

“There is like gravel out of line. So it’s going to be difficult.

“We said yesterday that the track, the tarmac is not F1 standards. There’s nothing we can do, I think this weekend we need to put [on] a show. But this has to change for next year, it’s very difficult to race like this.”

Lando Norris

“It’s a joke.

“Carlos [Sainz] brought it up yesterday and I think there’s some things that we understand and we know better than maybe what they can see, because we know where a few more risks are and where the car’s on the limit and things like that so.

“Considering it got brought up and it’s a safety thing and something that we gave advice on and nothing was