Bottas expects some 'really good overtaking' in Miami

Valttero Bottas believes Miami's International Autodrome will provide drivers with many overtaking opportunities based on the sim runs he's enjoyed ahead of next weekend's inaugural event.

Formula 1 teams are rolling roll into Florida's Magic City for the long-awaited race at the new venue that will be the fifth round of the 2022 championship and the first of two races in the US this year, with Austin hosting its own race in October.

Laid out around the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, the home of the NFL's Miami Dolphins, the 5.412km street circuit features 19 corners and several straight-line stretches.

As part of his and Alfa Romeo's preparations for the milestone event, Bottas sampled the virtual version of Miami's track and the Finn was impressed with the layout.

"Actually it was nice to see that it seems to be a really good track for overtaking," he said.

"I think the way the track has been planned, I think, from my side, it looks positive. It should be good racing. Pretty long straights and a couple of really good overtaking opportunities.

"So let's see how it is done in real life, but to me on paper, it looks good. And I'm sure as an event it’s going to be pretty amazing."

• Video: Fly through the amazing Miami GP campus!

Red Bull's Sergio Perez also indulged in a few sim sessions on the new track, and the Mexican also gave the venue a thumbs up, at least in its digital version.

"I think it's a good circuit," he said. "I think it has a little bit of a twisty area that is quite difficult to get right, and the visibility can be difficult.

"But I think racing can be good with all those long straights. I just hope the asphalt can be good, and we can have good racing, because when we come to new circuits we find some good surprises."

As for AlphaTauri's Pierre Gasly, the Frenchman said that based on the sim version, he's "hyped" to hit Miami's new track.

"I’ve tried it and I must say it looks pretty awesome," said Gasly. "I really liked the layout.

"Quite a lot of high-speed content, quite challenging, unusual type of corners, extremely long corners, very long straights.

"I think we should have some pretty good American entertainment, good entertainment the whole weekend, so very excited about it and the location is unique.

"So very hyped about the weekend."

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