#F1 Crypto.com #MiamiGP 2025 Preview.
Formula 1 Crypto.com Miami Grand Prix 2024 Race Start, Miami International Autodrome, Miami, Florida. Image credit to Mark Thompson/Getty Images. 2025 Miami GP Preview, Miami Grand Prix Preview, Miami Dolphins F1, Formula 1 Miami Preview.
2025 Miami GP Preview – After Oscar Piastri claimed victory under the lights at Jeddah to capture the championship lead, round six of the 2025 FIA Formula 1 World Championship returns to the Miami International Autodrome in Miami Gardens, Miami, Florida, United States for the Formula 1 Crypto.com Miami Grand Prix 2025. This will be the second Grand Prix of the season, which will feature the Sprint format and is the third time that Miami has hosted a race on the Formula 1 World Championship calendar.
2025 Miami GP Preview – A look at the Miami International Autodrome
The Miami International Autodrome is a purpose-built temporary circuit around the Hard Rock Stadium, the home of the Miami Dolphins NFL team and it’s private facilities in the Miami suburb of Miami Gardens, Florida. The circuit is 5.412 kilometres in length and features 19 corners, three straights a potential for three DRS zones and an expected average speed of 223kph. Top speeds are estimated to be 320kph. The circuit was designed to Formula One standards by track designers, Apex Circuit Design, for the Miami Grand Prix.
There are elevation changes too, with the main one between turns 13 and 16, with the circuit heading over an exit ramp and under various flyovers across uneven ground. The turn 14-15 chicane has an uphill approach, with a crest in the middle, then drops down on the exit.
This track, which will be within the private Hard Rock Stadium grounds will be using all-new and existing roads within, with new permanent asphalt pathways of the circuit integrated into the Hard Rock Stadium grounds. The track is a temporary-type circuit, which will not use any public streets that are located around the Hard Rock Stadium.
A few weeks before the Grand Prix, the circuit and its safety features will be set up just for the race weekend. After the race, the circuit will be dismantled, and the Hard Rock Stadium facility returned back to its normal state.
The Grand Prix circuit layout is 5.412 kilometres (3.363 miles) in length and runs in an anti-clockwise direction.
Race distance is 308.326 kilometres (191.584 miles) in length with 57 laps in total and 19 corners.
Reigning world champion Max Verstappen set the fastest lap record at last year’s Miami GP event with a 1:29.708 in his Oracle Red Bull Racing, Honda–RBPT, RB20 racer and has won two events at the Miami International Autodrome. McLaren’s Lando Norris is the defending race winner from last year’s race.
2025 Miami GP Preview – A lap of the Miami International Autodrome
Here is the onboard pole lap from last season’s Miami Grand Prix set by reigning world champion Max Verstappen in his Oracle Red Bull Racing Honda-RBPT RB20 racer. The Dutchman posted a 1:27.241. You can see the footage right here at the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rweng8ZTfm4
2025 Miami GP Preview – Tyres
Pirelli will be bringing with them to the Miami International Autodrome, the C2 white side-walled Hard tyres, the C3 yellow-marked Mediums and the red-branded C4 Softs alongside the green side-walled Intermediates and blue-marked Full Wets in-case of rain.
Drivers will have a fixed allocation of two sets of the hards, three sets of the mediums and seven of the softs.
2025 Miami GP Preview – DRS Zones
There will be three DRS Zones at the Miami International Autodrome with the first detection point just after turn eight with the first activation zone just after the turn nine kink running down to turn 11. The second detection zone is after the turn 16 left-hander with the activation zone almost half-way down the long back straight in-between turns 16 and 17. The final detection point is just after the turn 17 hairpin with the final activation zone half-way through the last corner kink onto the main-straight on the run-down to turn one.
2025 Miami GP Preview – Pitlane Speed Limits
Pitlane speeds will be 80km/h during practice, qualifying and the race.
ICYMI: Piastri cruises to Saudi Arabian GP victory
McLaren’s Oscar Piastri scored his third victory of the season at the Saudi Arabian GP ahead of Red Bull’s Max Verstappen by 2.843 seconds as Charles Leclerc claimed the final podium place keeping Lando Norris at bay.
Piastri claimed the World Driver’s Championship lead over McLaren team-mate Norris by 10 points (99-89) after his back-to-back victories in the Middle East.
When the 50-lap Saudi Arabian GP began, pole-sitter Verstappen got an equally solid start with Piastri as they ran wheel-to-wheel into the opening corner as the former ran off track into turn one, but the Dutchman remained in-front.
Replays showed Piastri did managed to get the nose of his MCL39 racer in-front before the apex of the corner as Verstappen went off the throttle into turn one as he ran into the run-off area to stay ahead of the McLaren.
Behind them both Red Bull’s Yuki Tsunoda and Alpine’s Pierre Gasly collided into the first corner as the former with his front-right clipped the latter’s rear sending the Alpine into a spin and hitting the wall along with Tsunoda briefly touching the wall.
Gasly was the initial retiree of the race as Tsunoda managed to continue on.
The safety car was deployed after the incident as Alpine’s Jack Doohan, Haas’s Esteban Ocon and Sauber’s Gabriel Bortoleto stopped for a fresh set of the harder compound.
Tsunoda then came in to retire his car.
The stewards noted the incident between Piastri and Verstappen where the latter left the track and gained an advantage.
Verstappen reported to his team that he was forced off the track by Piastri.
Piastri said to his team that Verstappen was never going to make the corner.
When the race resumed on lap four, after Gasly’s A525 entry was cleared. Race leader Verstappen got a solid run out of the final corner as behind them Mercedes’ George Russell was closely behind Piastri on the run-down into turns one and two. Piastri managed to keep the Mercedes at bay.
The stewards gave Verstappen a five-second-timed-penalty for leaving the track and gaining an advantage.
On the fifth tour, Verstappen’s lead was over 1.2 seconds and out of DRS range from Piastri with Russell third, Leclerc fourth, Antonelli fifth, Hamilton sixth, Sainz seventh, Norris who started on hards in eighth as the other Williams of Alexander Albon was ninth as Racing Bulls’ Isack Hadjar completing the top ten.
Meanwhile Piastri got back within DRS range of Verstappen as the Australian posted the fastest lap of the race.
Antonelli was another in DRS range of Leclerc’s Ferrari in the fight for P4 as further behind them Norris was also in DRS range of Sainz’s FW47 in the battle for seventh.
Championship leader Norris then did make the move stick on the Spaniard with the slipstream and DRS making a move on the inside of the Williams into turn one to take the position.
The turn five incident involving Tsunoda and Gasly is currently investigated by the stewards.
Out-front race leader Verstappen’s lead over Piastri was hovering over the 1.1 second mark – with the question of the undercut and how powerful it would be remained to be seen at this stage.
Russell was not a further 2.2 second adrift, but nearly two seconds clear of Leclerc who still had Antonelli for company.
Whilst Piastri was still bottled behind Verstappen and back into DRS range, Norris was doing his best to chase down Hamilton’s SF-25 entry in the battle for sixth.
Meanwhile into the final corner Norris passed the Ferrari of Hamilton on the inside into the final corner, but with DRS assistance, Hamilton made the move back on the McLaren to snatch the place back.
Further back, RB’s Liam Lawson made his way ahead of Haas’s Oliver Bearman to move up into 12th place.
One more at the final corner Norris then overtook Hamilton to grab sixth place, but the latter once again with DRS passes the McLaren just before the end of the main-straight again to reclaim the place.
This time, with DRS assistance, Norris made the move stick as he passed Hamilton on the main-straight to move up into sixth place.
The 16th tour saw race leader Verstappen who still has the five-second-timed-penalty over him with his lead over Piastri at 1.5 seconds with Russell holding third, Leclerc fourth, Antonelli fifth, Norris closing in on the Mercedes and in sixth, Hamilton seventh, Sainz eighth, Albon ninth as Hadjar rounded out the top ten.
No one had DRS in the top 10 at this stage of proceeding as the race settled slightly. Norris had 2.9 seconds to make up to Antonelli in-front, so he had a little bit of fresh air to drive into.
Alonso was the man to watch with DRS, back down in P12 and chasing down RB’s Lawson.
Hamilton reported his SF-25 racer was less grippy.
Verstappen’s gap on lap 18 was at 2.263 over Piastri. The question was is the latter cooling his tyres? Or starting to drop off. With the pit-stop window just around the corner, there was not much free air for the leaders to fall back into.
Meanwhile, Norris breezed past the Mercedes of Antonelli with DRS assistance to take fifth place.
Further down, Bearman was the first to pit for his fresh set of hards as Piastri was told by his McLaren to pit.
On the next tour, second-placed Piastri pitted for his fresh set of hards, suffering a slower 3.4 second stop and the Australian came out in sixth place behind Hamilton.
Antonelli also stopped for his fresh set of hards and emerged in 11th place behind Hadjar.
Out-front race leader Verstappen was told to push.
A tour later on the 21st lap, Russell came in to react to Piastri and the former on his new set of hards came out in seventh place behind Sainz.
Piastri then with a bold pass overtook Hamilton through turn 22 to sweep into third place as race leader Verstappen came in to pit and serve his five-second-timed-penalty.
The Dutchman emerged with his fresh hard rubber to be behind Hamilton in fifth and Piastri crucially had the net lead.
On lap 24, the yet-to-pit Leclerc was 3.423 seconds clear of Norris who was also yet-to-stop, Piastri was third as Verstappen passed Hamilton in the final corner as the latter was told to box.
Hamilton on his fresh set of the C3 hards, came out in eighth place behind Antonelli’s Silver Arrow.
At half-race distance, Leclerc’s lead over Norris was at 3.499 seconds with Piastri third, Verstappen fourth, Russell fifth, Hadjar sixth, Antonelli seventh, Hamilton eighth as Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll and Sauber’s Nico Hulkenberg completed the top ten.
Further behind, Alonso just attempted a move on Bortoleto, as the duo made contact. Alonso is the Brazilian’s manager. Could be an interesting chat after the race between the duo.
A tour later, Alonso overtook Bortoleto for 16th and reported the car was ok.
A Safety Car would have been handy for Ferrari at this stage. Leclerc’s mediums were holding on well and was lapping around the same times as Norris.
Piastri was 5.3s behind his team mate Norris and Verstappen a further 4.3s adrift.
On the 28th lap, Sainz had DRS on Hulkenberg, as he tried to recover back into the points after his pit stop. The Spaniard then made the move stick to move up into the points.
On lap 30, Leclerc pitted from the lead and with a solid two second stop, emerged on his fresh set of hards in fifth place behind Russell’s F1 W16 entry.
Norris was now leading the Grand Prix from tenth on the grid, but he was still yet to pit at this stage.
A tour later, with the slipstream and DRS on the main-straight, Sainz made the move on Stroll on the run-down to turn one to take P9.
The story at this stage was when will Norris pit and for mediums or hards? The answer was likely behind Russell but with much fresher tyres.
Meanwhile on the 33rd tour, Leclerc was closing in on fourth-placed Russell with the striking distance in three laps.
In fresh air, race leader Norris was still running solid on his harder tyres whilst others were struggling for grip at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit, but Norris seemed to have driven through any problems and was lapping on par with team mate Piastri.
Further back, Antonelli down in sixth just brushed the wall. But the Italian got away with it.
On lap 35, Norris was told to box and bolted on a set of the C4 yellow-marked mediums and came out in clear air behind Leclerc.
Replays showed Norris lock up as he entered pit-lane. Further back Hadjar also stopped and came out in tenth place behind Albon.
Aston Martin’s Stroll at this stage of proceedings was the sole driver to have not pitted yet as the Canadian was running in 11th.
Piastri’s lead over Verstappen was 4.5 seconds with Russell a further six seconds behind but had Leclerc for company.
Norris had to make up 5.6 seconds to get back to the Ferrari and beyond with the podium very much up for grabs for those three drivers.
On lap 38 with DRS on the main-straight Leclerc made a move around the outside of the Mercedes before reaching turn one to go up into third place.
The gap between the front two had been stable pretty much since the pit stops. Piastri pulled it out to 4.6 seconds and then held it there as the McLaren driver began to manage his tyres and temperatures.
Norris’s pit exit incident was noted by the race stewards.
Norris however with DRS assistance on the main-straight, swiftly overtook Russell around the outside before reaching turn one to jump up into fourth place as further behind them both Haas of Ocon and Bearman switched positions with the latter in 13th as he chases down the Aston Martin of Alonso.
Meanwhile, the race stewards reported no further investigation for fourth-placed Norris’s pit exit line crossing investigation.
In eighth place, Sainz had dropped back to keep Albon in his DRS range, as the latter worked hard to keep a fresher shod Hadjar behind.
On lap 45, third-placed Leclerc just took a second out of Verstappen last time around. The Ferrari was starting to work again, as Hamilton began to catch Antonelli for sixth place.
As for Norris, he was 2.8 seconds behind Leclerc and was not closing quickly enough.
A tour later, however, Norris ate a second out of Leclerc’s gap as the mediums on the McLaren started to come alive. It was sitting at 1.9 seconds in the fight for the final podium place.
All eyes were on Norris on lap 48 as he was trying to limit his damage in his quest in the championship fight, with gap at 1.8 seconds to third-placed Leclerc as it held again.
Having charged his battery, Norris took half a second out of Leclerc. The gap is 1.2 seconds, and Norris needed a mighty lap here to get into DRS range on the final lap.
Up front, Piastri remained 3.2 seconds in-front of Verstappen and cruising for victory as he came up behind Hulkenberg, one last hurdle to lap.
Piastri crossed the line to take victory number three of the season at the Saudi Arabian GP and the championship lead and reached the chequered flag by 2.843 seconds over Verstappen as Leclerc held on to keep third place ahead of Norris.
The Mercedes’ duo followed as Russell and Antonelli finished fifth and sixth respectively as Hamilton was next in the other SF-25 entry in seventh.
The Williams FW47 entries of Sainz and Albon were eighth and ninth respectively whilst RB’s Hadjar rounded out the final points place in tenth.
Aston Martin’s Alonso finished outside the top ten in 11th place and in-front of Lawson who took 12th in the other RB as both Haas VF-25’s of Bearman and Ocon crossed the line in 13th and 14th respectively.
Sauber’s Hulkenberg reached the chequered flag 15th and ahead of Aston Martin’s Stroll who placed 16th and Alpine’s Doohan who was 17th.
Bortoleto brought up the rear in the other Sauber.
2025 Miami GP Preview – The Situation
Formula 1 makes it’s first of three trips to the United States in 2025 beginning with this weekend’s Miami Grand Prix, which will host the second Sprint weekend of the campaign.
Oscar Piastri leads the World Driver’s Championship standings for the first time after scoring victory last time out at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit, but only ten points clear of McLaren team-mate Lando Norris and 12 points from reigning world champion Max Verstappen.
Norris returns to the circuit we he claimed his maiden victory a year ago and will hoping to replicate that performance after his recent errors.
Oracle Red Bull Racing were as competitive as they have been all season in Saudi Arabia, so the attention draw on them whether they can match McLaren again, or if the Woking based-outfit will stretch their legs around the Miami International Autodrome.
Mercedes will be aiming to be right up there with George Russell, who is 26 points behind Piastri in the drivers standings, and rookie team-mate Andrea Kimi Antonelli, who has another new track to deal with.
Charles Leclerc took Ferrari’s initial podium of the campaign in Jeddah, and the big storyline will be whether he continues his dominance over seven-time world champion team-mate Sir Lewis Hamilton.
Piastri returns to Miami sitting on top of the World Driver’s Championship with 99 points and a 10-point advantage over McLaren team-mate Norris who is second on 89 points, meanwhile Verstappen is a further 12 points behind the Australian in third on 87 points.
McLaren Formula 1 Team heads to Florida sitting top of the World Constructor’s Championship standings with 188 points and a 77-points lead over closest rival Mercedes AMG Petronas Formula 1 Team who are second on 111 points, whilst Oracle Red Bull Racing are a further 99 points behind the Woking based-outfit on 89 points.
Scuderia Ferrari, Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber and Visa Cash App Racing Bulls Formula 1 Team will be featuring special liveries for the Miami GP weekend.
2025 Miami GP Preview – F1 Commission’s second meeting held in Geneva regarding 2025 and 2026 rules
The second meeting of the Formula 1 Commission took place in Geneva on April 24 in Geneva and online with the proceedings chaired by Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali and FIA Single-Seater Director Nikolas Tombazis.
The key discussion points at the meeting were updates on the 2025 regulations:
- Final amendments required for the implementation of the mandatory 2-stop strategy at the Monaco GP.
- Update of the parc ferme allowances relating to the situation where a driver elects not to wear the cooling vest.
- Addition of a regulatory mechanism to manage the situation of freight delays on fly-away events, as was experienced by a number of teams at the recent Chinese GP.
There was an amendment to the Financial Regulations in respect of the capital expenditure allowance for new entrants, this being necessary especially for the arrival of the Cadillac Formula 1 Team in 2026.
The issue of fires on the grass (as experienced recently during the Japanese GP) was also discussed and it was agreed to investigate both an alternative skid material (steel) and potential treatment on some tracks.
With the 2026 Regulations, the sport’s governing body, the FIA updated the participants on progress with the new rules.
The Formula 1 Commission discussed in principle modifications to the energy management strategy for 2026, as well as measures to address financial issues that can be faced by Engine Manufacturers that experience either low performance or major reliability problems in 2026. All of these topics will be discussed in more detail among the specialists in the appropriate advisory committees.
The FIA updated the Formula 1 Commission members about the constructive meeting held recently in Bahrain between the FIA, FOM and the Power-Train Manufacturers. The proposal for the return for 3L Naturally Aspirated V10 engines with 100% sustainable fuels were turned down due to the heavy focus on the simplified 1.6L V6 Turbo Hybrids.
All regulatory changes are subject to approval by the FIA World Motor Sport Council (WMSC).
2025 Miami GP Preview – Mexico City GP extended until 2028
Formula 1 announced that the Mexico City Grand Prix will remain on the Formula 1 calendar until 2028 as part of a three-year contract extension beginning in 2026.
Since it’s return to the sport’s calendar in 2015, the Mexico City GP has established itself as one of the standout events with it’s passionate fans and spectacular atmosphere.
The Mexico City GP captures the vibrancy and culture of the Mexican capital, where high-speed racing meets Day of the Dead celebrations and amazing live music from headline act.
The multi-award winning event has become a favourite amongst the drivers, teams and fans, with every event sold out since it’s return to the Formula 1 calendar – 405,000 people attended last year’s Grand Prix, setting a new record for the Mexico City GP.
President and CEO of Formula 1, Stefano Domenicali stated: “We are very excited to announce that the Mexico City Grand Prix will continue to be part of our calendar until 2028. Formula 1 is energy, passion and emotion, and every year the unique atmosphere created by our fans in Mexico City is one of the most incredible and energetic experiences of our championship. I want to express my sincere thanks to President Claudia Sheinbaum for her strong commitment to Formula 1, to the Head of Government Clara Brugada for her continued support and to Alejandro Soberón Kuri, whose leadership has been fundamental to the success of this event. I also want to thank the local stakeholders and businesses that share our vision and who make this event so special. We look forward to continuing this extraordinary collaboration together and seeing the incredible enthusiasm of the Mexican fans again in October.” Domenicali concluded, credit to F1 for the quote.
Built in 1959, the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez offers a sensational spectacle like no other in world motorsport.
Sitting at over 2km above sea level, it is the ultimate test for both driver and car as they battle the altitude and tackle the 4.3 kilometre lap, which features the famous Estadio Stadium section, where the drivers are met with a capacity of over 60,000 fans.
Three drivers on the current grid have taken the top step of the podium in Mexico City – Sir Lewis Hamilton, Carlos Sainz and Max Verstappen – with it being the place where Hamilton wrapped up his fourth and fifth World Driver’s Championship victories in 2017 and 18, and Sainz’s pole to chequered flag victory last season – his last win for Ferrari before leaving to join Williams.
The Formula 1 Mexico City Grand Prix 2025 will take place on Friday October 24-Sunday October 26.
Click here for the 2025 Formula 1 World Driver’s (Top 10) and Constructor’s Championship Standings
The Formula 1 Crypto.com Miami Grand Prix 2025 race weekend kicks off Friday May 2 with Free Practice 1 and Sprint Qualifying, followed by the 100 kilometre
