Formula One returned to the United States in 2010 following the granting of a 10-year contract to the ‘Circuit of the Americas’ (COAT) in Austin, Texas, with the first race of the current era taking place in 2012.Formula 1 has a rich history in the US, stretching back to 1908, and 47 races have taken place in the 100+ years that the event has been a part of the F1 calendar; it remains one of the best attended races of the entire season.The new circuit proposed for Miami is designed with clear intentions to replicate the frantic action seen last week in Azerbaijan, with the latter’s street track providing frenzied excitement for the fans during the course of Lewis Hamilton’s eventual win over Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen and Force India’s Sergio Perez.Featuring two long sweeping straights, the track would encourage heavy breaking, contributing to the aim of taking F1 in America back to its Miami street racing heyday of the 1980’s.The track would flow around the home of the Miami Heat NBA team before passing at high speed along a bridge over Port Boulevard.Two hairpins follow, before a stint over the waterfront, incorporating a series of 90 degree turns, eventually leads the drivers back to the start/finish line.The inclusion of a section requiring drivers to go over the water before returning along the same route would be a first for Formula 1, and is the realising of an idea originally mooted by F1 Kingpin Bernie Eccelestone and former Miami GP promoter Ralph Sanchez over 30 years ago.Although on paper that sounds like a cool and new idea, what if there is a crash going over the bridge? 

They will have to make sure there is absolutely zero chance of a car falling off the bridge and into the water.

With F1 suffering somewhat of a backlash over the last few years following accusations that races were becoming dull and predictable, the intended Miami circuit would provide a welcome antidote for those disillusioned with the sport thanks to the street race style of the track and the promise of increased action and overtaking.

Miami’s local authority will discuss a bid to take F1 back to Florida on May 10, and should support be forthcoming as expected, it is hoped that a contract can be in place to facilitate the first race being held in October next year.