Problems with the surface of the new Miami track first surfaced last Thursday, before not even the cars rolled out, only the safety car and laps by VIP guests had put the track to the test.
It was at this point that damage appeared at turn 17, the hairpin that precedes the finish straight, and at turn 7, the left-hander that narrows at the exit of the false marina.
It is believed that in both cases it is due to a problem that occurred during the asphalting process, so at first it is not feared that other areas of the circuit will be affected.
The areas that had caused problems were already resurfaced on Thursday night, before the first practice sessions on Friday.
However, on Friday night it was decided to make a second resurfacing attempt at Turn 17, at the same time as some additional work was being carried out on the exit of the corner, which had not been previously addressed.
In an updated version of the race director’s notes sent to the teams on Saturday morning, Niels Wittich reported: “The apex and exit of Turn 17 have been resurfaced.”
The pit entrance chicane, with its two hairpin turns, was also a point of contention before the weekend.
The Formula 1 timing system was originally set with the speed limit of 80km/h after the chicane, as well as at the start of the pitlane .
After inspections on Thursday, Wittich decided that for safety reasons the start of the speed limit zone should be delayed until just before the chicane, forcing drivers to brake before attempting a left turn.
However, safety concerns remained over the possibility of a driver hitting the curbs hard and being catapulted straight into the pit wall.
After a discussion in the briefing with the drivers, it was decided to remove the curbs before Saturday’s session.
In his notes, Wittich said: “The curbs at the pit entrance have been removed and replaced with a bollard at each apex.”
