Miami Grand Prix track heavily flooded just a month before F1 race

City, county and state workers in Miami have been furiously trying to alleviate flooding on the Grand Prix circuit after days of heavy rain left many roads throughout the city impassable earlier this week. Formula One is set to return to the United States in less than a month for this year’s Miami Grand Prix, which will take place on a temporary street circuit around the iconic Hard Rock Stadium.

Last year’s inaugural race was undoubtedly a hit for F1’s decision-makers, who had been working tirelessly to arrange an event in Miami in order to expand their US operations before it went ahead for the first time last May. However, officials will now be sweating over the inclement weather in the city over the last few days, with widespread flooding having left many roads unusable just weeks before the return of Grand Prix action.

Images on social media appear to show people wading through knee-deep water behind one of the temporary stands in place for next month’s event, while some drivers were left stranded due to the scale of the flooding across the city. Officials have been working to clear the standing water over the last few days, though, and things are now said to be running smoothly for the most part.

That’s according to Local 10, who are reporting that the biggest problems arise when the heavy downpours come and the roads are simply unable to cope with the conditions. Motorists are also being encouraged to avoid flooded areas completely, rather than attempting to drive through the water and risking further delays.

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It remains to be seen whether the issue will be resolved by the time F1 returns to Miami next month, although there could still be plenty of questions raised over the quality of the circuit even if all of the standing water is cleared in time for the event. A number of drivers had concerns over the levels of grip last year, with Fernando Alonso insisting that the track surface was not up to scratch, while the tight chicane at turns 14 and 15 was also widely panned.

“The tarmac is not F1 standard,” said Alonso. “There’s gravel off-line, it’s going to be difficult. There’s nothing we can do. This weekend we need to put on the show, but this has to change for next year. It’s very difficult to race like this.”

Daniel Ricciardo was also scathing in his criticism of the Miami Grand Prix circuit last year, with the Aussie driver telling reporters: “I’m OK to have points of difference to make some circuits unique and have their own character, but in saying that, this isn’t a nice surface to drive on.

“It’s not that it’s just like, ‘oh, it’s challenging’, but it’s just you literally have to just stay on that one line otherwise you’re not really on the track anymore. So instead of making it a good challenge, it just makes it a little bit one dimensional because you only have that one option of that one line where there is a little bit of rubber building up.”

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