The trio of compounds selected by Pirelli for the Miami Grand Prix is the same as used two weeks ago in Saudi Arabia: C3 as Hard, C4 as Medium, and C5 as Soft. Just like in Jeddah, this represents one step softer compared to last season.
The Miami circuit was built around the Hard Rock Stadium and features very smooth asphalt, which subjects the tyres to medium-low longitudinal and lateral forces. Thermal degradation—also due to expected very high temperatures (last year the track surface exceeded 55°C)—will be a key factor.
The asphalt was resurfaced in 2023 and, like many circuits set up specifically for a Grand Prix, it is subject to a progressive and significant increase in grip as more cars run on it. This year, two support series will be present: F1 Academy and Porsche Carrera Cup North America.
Pirelli tyres Miami: the situation in 2024
The Miami Grand Prix has traditionally been a one-stop race, and that was the case last year as well.
For the first stint, the Medium was the preferred choice (15 out of 20 drivers), followed by a switch to the Hard, with only a couple of drivers opting for the Soft, which still showed relatively low degradation.
All three compounds—then C2, C3, and C4—had rather limited performance differences. Strategy, particularly the pit stop window rather than the number of stops, was influenced by an early Virtual Safety Car that later turned into a full Safety Car. It will be interesting to see if the move to a softer tyre trio will impact strategies, potentially opening the door to two-stop races.
As in Jeddah, Miami will also feature three DRS zones, which will offer the best overtaking opportunities on the track. Very high top speeds can be reached by exploiting slipstream and DRS: in 2024, Lance Stroll (Aston Martin) hit 355 km/h during the race.
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