Formula 1: Weather forecast and what to expect at Miami GP 2023?

This will only be the second race at the Miami International Autodrome.

The Formula 1 (F1) circus travels to Miami for the first of its three races that will be held in the United States in this F1 2023 season. The fifth round of the campaign — the Miami GP 2023 — takes place in Florida at the Miami International Autodrome.

USA's reception and fan attendance have shown a rapid surge in terms of its latest popularity amongst Americans. Netflix's premier series "Drive to Survive" has played a vital role in bringing a flavor of European motorsports into the American culture. It's obvious why Formula 1 is choosing to visit the States on three different occasions in a season of 23 races.

Miami GP circuit layout and expectations

The circuit was designed by Formula 1 track designers Apex Circuit Design. The area near Hard Rock Stadium, the home field for the Miami Dolphins, and its nearby parking lots set the layout for the 5.412 km (3.363 miles) circuit.

The race comprises 57 laps in a hybrid street circuit layout, with overtaking zones between turns 10 to 11, 16 to 17, and 19 to 1. Miami also boasts of having the second-fastest straight on the calendar between turns 16 to 17. The track is a permanent-style circuit with temporary infrastructure installed during the makeshift race weekend.

It's a volatile track where a driver needs to be sharp with the changes in speed and control. Sausage kerbs make it a bit challenging, but with long straights and three overtaking zones, Miami serves a spectacle of unforced errors for the fans.

The heat and tire degradation alongside a street circuit layout increases the chances for Red Bull's Sergio Pérez. The Mexican stands second in the Championship rankings, six points behind his teammate Max Verstappen. In constructors, Red Bull is ahead by 93 points to Aston Martin in second.

What happened here, last year?

Last year, Ferrari's Charles Leclerc was on the pole but failed to translate that performance into a win on Sunday's race as the reigning World Champion Max Verstappen ousted him for the victory. Leclerc assumed the P2, followed by his teammate Carlos Sainz Jr. in P3.

It's only the second race at Miami since the track was introduced. During its inception, it was not universally popular among the drivers and the fans of the sport. The race became a bit chaotic for all the wrong reasons.

Scrutiny and embarrassment

For the drivers, chicanes at turns 14 and 15, in particular, stuck out like a sore thumb due to the presence of kerbs, unwarranted elevation, and wall design. For the fans, traffic congestion around the venue, sub-standard mismanagement, and exorbitant ticket prices made the overall experience nothing memorable.

Since then, the track has got resurfaced for this year with some unnecessary kerbs removed. The management had taken feedback on their lackluster organization with exclusive VIP experiences. The overall execution of guiding the crowd of nearly 243 thousand spectators will be a paramount concern.

Weather over the race weekend

Regarding the weather conditions over the race weekend, Miami poses a unique predicament for the teams. For coastal climates, the weather is known for its inconsistent patterns. The Met Office is currently predicting dry conditions on Friday.

According to the forecast, the highest possible chances of downpours remain at 10%. On Saturday, there is a 40% chance of rain when the qualifying session will happen. On Sunday, it's back to 10%, with sunny conditions expected on the race day. The temperature should remain around 20 degrees over the course of F1's stay.