FIA introduce Miami Grand Prix rule change despite Hamilton criticism

The FIA has introduced major DRS changes for this weekend’s Miami Grand Prix just a week after criticism from drivers including Lewis Hamilton. Two out of the three DRS zones have been shortened ahead of the weekend despite opposition to similar updates in Azerbaijan.

The first activation zone on the run out of turn 11 has been cut by 75 metres ahead of this weekend’s race. Meanwhile, the second zone on the back straight has also been cut from 525m last year to just 450m in 2023.

Last weekend, DRS reductions were blamed by many as the reason behind a lack of overtaking. Lando Norris claimed it was “impossible to overtake” while Lewis Hamilton stressed the updates had a sizeable impact on the racing.

The 38-year-old explained: “They shortened the DRS this year down the straight, I don’t know why they did that, we have always had great racing the way the DRS was. By the time we turn DRS on, it was too late.”

Team-mate George Russell also raised concerns over the move and called out the FIA for making changes without consulting those behind the wheel.

Speaking in Baku, he remarked: “The drivers have had zero input. I’ve been a little bit disappointed again that we weren’t in that loop — I’m not even sure the FIA are aware that we feel that overtaking is harder, yet they’re basing the DRS off historic information. It’s going to make it challenging to overtake.”

Tweaks to DRS zones are being made on a circuit-by-circuit basis although the move could backfire after race promoters demanded more action earlier this year. There were just 45 overtakes in last year’s Miami Grand Prix with promoters calling for more action in 2023.

In a bid to improve the show, organisers have repaved the entire circuit as they sought out “side by side racing”.

Miami GP managing director Tom Garfinkel said: “The goal we set out was to have great racing, a lot of overtaking, side-by-side racing, and the track we had last year, I don’t remember the exact number of overtakes … but there were parts of the racetrack where there was one line where there should have been the possibility to overtake, and so we weren’t happy with that.

“We’re going to go through with the investment and expense to go ahead and repave it in an effort to get it where it races better.”