Carlos Sainz calls for energy reduction amid Miami thunderstorm threat

While the majority of the weekend at the Miami International Autodrome is expected to deliver sizzling temperatures and glorious sunshine, the forecast for Sunday’s race is painting a far more concerning picture. With heavy thunderstorms threatening to disrupt the Miami Grand Prix, heavy rain, lightning, and thunder are all predicted for much of race day.

The case for energy reduction

Formula 1 is no stranger to wet weather in Miami. Last year's Sprint took place in highly challenging conditions, where standing water proved to be a critical issue on the circuit.

When asked about the potential extremes of driving in wet weather this weekend, Sainz was clear about his concerns. "Yeah, it is obviously, I think, at the back of everyone’s heads, what’s going to happen when it’s wet," he explained. "I’ve always been a bit of an advocate for the 350 kW not being needed and I hope that we could find a way to maybe reduce it down to 250 or 300 for the race."

Standing water and visibility concerns

The unique characteristics of the Miami International Autodrome exacerbate the dangers of heavy rain. "As we saw last year, on the straights, no, a lot of standing water here," Sainz noted. "It’s a super-flat track, the water stays on the surface and whether that’s going to be safe enough or not, with the walls close to you and the visibility that we have with these cars, it is certainly going to be a concern."

Despite the inherent risks, Sainz remains eager to race, provided the right safety measures are implemented. "But yeah, I hope that we can take all the appropriate actions for it. We can have a good show, a good race. I think all drivers want to drive in the wet. Wet races are a lot of fun. Me, the first one, you guys know I love the wet."

Lightning risks and technical anomalies

Beyond the standing water, the forecast also brings the unpredictable element of lightning strikes. "But hopefully with the right system and tools in place to make it safe," Sainz added. "And also, there’s this lightning risk that I don’t know what will happen with." This raises critical questions about what happens if lightning strikes during the Miami Grand Prix.

Sainz also questioned specific technical regulations regarding wet-weather running, particularly the use of Straight Line Mode (SLM). "There are a few things, like the SLM in the wet only at the front, that I really don’t understand why we have that if it doesn’t reduce the drag much," he pointed out.

With the threat of severe weather looming, the Williams driver emphasized the need for clarity ahead of Sunday. "So yeah, a few things to analyse, to put together, if Sunday is going to be wet, maybe to discuss in drivers’ briefing so we can have all clear in our heads what we should expect and what we should go racing with."