BARCELONA, Spain -- Lewis Hamilton is perhaps the biggest advocate of a Miami Grand Prix, but the reigning Formula One champion is unimpressed with the street circuit the city hopes will join the calendar for the 2019 season.
On Thursday, the Miami City Commission will vote whether to give the street race the go-ahead for next season. Last week a map of the proposed circuit, which runs around Miami Heat's home stadium and across the harbour, was circulated online.
Today got a first look at a potential map for @F1 in @downtownMIA. Most of course is in the port with a loop around AAArena. Would you like to see #miami become a stop on the Formula One circuit? pic.twitter.com/sOY08hJ5yM
— Ken Russell Miami (@kenrussellmiami) May 3, 2018
Hamilton -- who has repeatedly named Miami as a dream F1 venue in the past -- originally shared his reaction on social media, posting to Instagram: "OK, so I've just seen the design of the Miami track. Nah bruh, it's not the one. Let me design it."
The Mercedes driver does not understand why F1 drivers do not get to offer their input on new racetracks.
"I don't really get it, for example in golf you get all the great golfers designing golf courses, we've not got any of the top racing drivers in history, they've never designed a racetrack," he said. "Not that we are designers or anything but our input. Miami is a super-cool place and then I saw the layout and it was like nah. But it could be fun."
Hamilton is worried the current layout could ruin the spectacle and referred to the unpopular street race held in Valencia between 2008 and 2012.
"You've got two of the longest straights but maybe when we drive it it could be fun. I dread the thought of a street circuit like we had with Valencia, that wasn't a great street circuit. It can be a hit or miss, but maybe it's a hit. I don't want to get an assumption before we've even driven it.
"But I'm sure as drivers we can give an insight into it and I know Miami quite well. There's a few better locations to put the track for example."
Spanish Grand Prix
U.S. TV broadcast times
Practice 1 - Friday, May 11 5:00 a.m. - ESPNU
Practice 2 - Friday, May 11 9:00 a.m. - ESPNU
Practice 3 - Saturday, May 12 6:00 a.m. - ESPNEWS
Qualifying - Saturday, May 12 9:00 a.m. - ESPN2
Qualifying Encore - Sunday, May 13 7 a.m.-8:30 a.m. - ESPN2
On The Grid - Sunday, May 13 - 8:30 a.m.-9:05 a.m. - ESPN2
Race - Sunday, May 13 - 9:05 a.m.-11 a.m. - ESPN2
Encore - Sunday, May 13 - 7:30 p.m.-10 p.m. - ESPN2
Encore - Sunday, May 13 - 10 p.m.-12:30 a.m. - ESPNEWS