The official Formula 1 Twitter account posted the 2022 race calendar on New Year’s Day – with the Miami Grand Prix subject to FIA circuit homologation. But what does this actually mean ahead of F1’s first trip to Miami?
When Formula 1 was brought by American firm Liberty Media in 2016, one goal was to get the series racing in so-called “destination cities” around the globe.
It’s taken nearly six years, but in 2022, F1 will finally visit the first of these ‘destination cities’ with the Miami Grand Prix.
It will be the first time F1 has raced in the city, and will mean there are two grands prix in the United States – with Circuit of the Americas in Texas.
But in a tweet outlining the 2022 F1 calendar, the Miami Grand Prix was marked as ‘subject to FIA Circuit Homologation.’
What does this actually mean?
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FIA Circuit Homologation explained
The initial idea for the Miami Grand Prix was for it to run through downtown Miami.
However, local residents objected to the plan, requiring a shift in thinking.
Instead, the race will be held in and around the site of the Miami Dolphins’ Hardrock Stadium.
It is a 19-turn, 3.3-mile anti-clockwise circuit, with the race due to last 57 laps.
However, before the cars hit the track ahead of the grand prix weekend on the weekend of May 6-8th 2022, the track must pass the FIA circuit homologation tests.
As it is a new track, the venue must pass strict safety tests.
At every stage through the process of the Miami Grand Prix, from the initial drawings to construction of the track, it will have been done so with the FIA’s circuit homologation tests in mind.
The tests ensure the track is up to the required Grade 1 standard required of grand prix venues.
Items such as run-off areas, access roads, marshalling posts and pit facilities are taken into account.
The most recent track on the calendar – the Jeddah Corniche street track in Saudi Arabia also had to pass the FIA circuit homologation tests prior to its first grand prix in 2021.
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What does the calendar look like?
Since 2018, the F1 season has edged into December.
However in 2022, it will wrap up in November – as soccer’s FIFA World Cup takes places in November and December 2022.
It means F1 will cram a record-equalling 23 grands prix in between the season-opener in Bahrain on March 20th and Abu Dhabi finale on November 20th.
There are seven double-headers, and two triple-headers.
The British Grand Prix takes place on July 3rd, with the second race in the US at Austin set for its annual autumn slot on October 23rd.
Provided it meets the FIA circuit homologation tests, the Miami Grand Prix will be the sixth round of the season.
It will slot in between the Emilia Romagna GP on April 24th and Spanish GP on May 22nd.
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