Miami GP interested in Sprint Races

Formula 1 will continue to have six Sprint Races in 2024 and while the organizers of the Miami GP admitted they are happy with the conventional race weekend with three practice sessions, one qualifying session ahead of the Grand Prix, they are keeping an open mind to becoming a Sprint weekend in 2024.

"We're always interested in the sprint race," Miami GP President Tyler Epp told Motorsport.com. "But I will also tell you that quali is really valuable for us, right? Like we see a lot of value in the qualification experience in F1.

"I think there's a tonne of our fans that have given us great feedback about traditional qualifying. But we're here to support [F1] and if we have an opportunity to host a sprint race at some point, we welcome that. But it's not something we're actively pursuing," he admitted.

Epp also touched on the prospect of the Miami GP becoming a night race; he said: "A number of the promoters have been very helpful: Singapore, and specifically Vegas, and we've talked about, could we do this? Does this make sense?

"But we didn't really get too deep into the analysis, because at some point, it's why are you doing it? We have to make sure there's a justifiable reason.

"It's very unlikely that we would do it for 2024, but we will continue to evaluate. We're always looking at ways to make the experience better, and if we get to the place where F1 says this really does work for us from a broadcast perspective, this makes a lot of sense. Certainly, we'll take a look at it," he maintained.

One of the aspects of the Miami GP that stirred controversy in its first two versions in 2022 and 2023 were the fake marinas and beaches placed around the track.

However Epp insisted feedback regarding them has been positive and that they will be kept for now, while admitting there is a chance things evolve in the future.

He said: "Sooner or later things have to evolve, but it doesn't mean we completely depart. It doesn't mean that all of a sudden there is no more beach, but it does mean that at some point, the beach probably evolves into some different things or includes different activities.

"But these decisions are made mostly around the demographic and the experience that the people are having in those spaces. So, if we're consistently getting certain feedback that 'this is nice', we will keep it.

"The Marina has been super fun," the Miami boss insisted. "We will continue to evolve that and there'll be a time when that has to rotate through, but that's okay."

On the other hand, and from a sporting perspective, the track surface for the Miami GP track was highly criticized by all F1 drivers in the inaugural race in 2022.

That prompted the organizers to resurface ahead of the 2023 race, and Epp revealed there are plans to improve the grip even more for the 2024 Miami Grand Prix.

He revealed: "We have had conversations with the FIA and F1 about trying to get a little more rubber laid onto the race track prior to the F1 cars going out.

"That's something we're looking into for next year. We'll try to make it the very best environment possible, but it was almost two seconds better, and we saw an increased number of passes, including a pass for the lead,' he pointed out.

Asked if the route towards improving the grip would be having more support races, he responded: "I think it's very, very viable that we would go back to two support races supporting F1 next year.

"Exactly what those are, we're still working through, but I will tell you it's being driven by trying to make sure the F1 races and practice sessions are performing in the best possible way that they can, not necessarily just trying to fill the schedule," Epp concluded.