The Magic City just got even better. Already know for their gorgeous beaches, nightlife that doesn’t stop and an insanely great food scene, now they will have racing.
Formula One announced that they will race in Miami beginning next year and will continue with a 10-year deal to host a Miami Grand Prix.
The long anticipated race will take place on a new 3.36-mile track features 19 corners, 3 straights and potential for 3 DRS zones with an estimated top speed of 198/mph or 320km/h. Hard Rock Stadium, home of the Miami Dolphins, will sit at the heart of the circuit. Formula 1 and the FIA will be liaising closely with the promoter, who is working to build a brand new track that will provide high speed straights, multiple overtaking opportunities and exciting racing while meeting the highest safety standards.
The question unanswered is will this track venue be a permanent structure that can be used for future races beyond F1.
While the exact date of the Miami race will be determined at a later time, F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali confirmed the event would be held in the second quarter of the year, ahead of the summer break in August. This means F1 will avoid back-to-back races in the U.S. by keeping the Miami Grand Prix separate from the U.S. Grand Prix, traditionally held in the final quarter of the season at Austin’s Circuit of the Americas.
“We will keep them separate, in order to give the right space for both,” Domenicali said on Sunday through a press release. “This is really crucial.”
“It’s always interesting to go to a new place where we’ve never driven before and Miami is a great city,” said Red Bull Racing Honda’s Max Verstappen. “I’m sure if they build a good track, we can have a lot of fun out there and hopefully we’ll bring a lot of excitement so the fans can of course enjoy the race. I’m always happy to be in America, it gives you that kind of feeling that anything is possible, so I’m just excited to go there.”
F1 has been working on bringing a race to Miami for a number of years and originally hoped to race around the Biscayne Bay and Bayfront Park area as early as 2019 before local opposition blocked the idea. Working alongside the owner of the Miami Dolphins, Stephen Ross, F1 then targeted a race on the land around the Hard Rock Stadium, but still faced opposition from local residents and politicians.
City councilors finally voted in favor of the idea on Thursday after a benefits package for Miami Gardens was included as part of the deal. An allotment of discounted tickets will be set aside for Miami Gardens residents and a $5 million support program for local businesses and the community has been agreed, including a STEM education program for local schools. This now allows for an entirely new fan base to experience the racing first hand hopefully leaving a lasting love for the sport.
Since the Championship began in 1950, Formula 1 has raced at Riverside, Sebring, Watkins Glen, Long Beach, Las Vegas, Detroit, Dallas, Phoenix, Indianapolis and Circuit of the Americas in Austin.
Miami will become the 11th venue to host a Formula One race in the United States and is expected to join the existing U.S. Grand Prix on the 2022 schedule, assuming the race in Austin renews its contract as expected for next year. The expectation is that the contract will be renewed this year ahead of the race weekend scheduled for October 24.
“The U.S. is a key growth market for us, and we are greatly encouraged by our growing reach in the U.S. which will be further supported by this exciting second race,” Domenicali said. “We will be working closely with the team from Hard Rock Stadium and the FIA to ensure the circuit delivers sensational racing but also leaves a positive and lasting contribution for the people in the local community.”
“Racing in the US is always great fun and I enjoy a city circuit, it’s a good challenge,” added Red Bull Honda’s Sergio Perez. “I think Miami is a great location for Formula One. It’s a very fun city and there’s lots of energy in that place. The Latino community is pretty big there so I’m definitely looking forward going there soon. I think Miami and F1 is the perfect combination.”