When Formula 1 first teased a Miami race, the pitch sounded irresistible. A downtown circuit hugging Biscayne Bay, skyscrapers shimmering in the background, South Beach energy baked into every corner.

F1 cars are fast, thanks to their continuous focus on achieving the lowest possible lap times. They do this by fine-tuning their race cars' engines, tires, and aerodynamics, while working within a ...