With just 5 days to go before the start of the FORMULA 1 CRYPTO.COM MIAMI GRAND PRIX 2023 organizers are gearing-up for another spectacular weekend of action both on and off the racetrack. The 3.36-mile Miami International Autodrome is set to roar into life over the weekend of May 5-7, 2023 as it hosts round five of this year’s FIA Formula 1 World Championship.
Twelve months ago, Max Verstappen won the inaugural race in Miami for Oracle Red Bull Racing after a thrilling duel with Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc. With the reigning world champion and his team currently leading the 2023 points standings, the Dutchman will be among the favorites to triumph again on the 19-turn Miami International Autodrome next week. As well as welcoming South Florida’s very own Logan Sargeant to the grid, fans will have plenty to look forward to when the 10 F1 teams and 20 drivers descend on the vibrant city of Miami after making the 6,800-mile trip from Baku — the location for the previous race — held just days before the action begins in Miami Gardens.
New for this year, the Formula 1® paddock will be located in the center of Hard Rock Stadium and organizers have been working around-the-clock to prepare the venue, transforming the football field to the home of the Miami Open presented by Itaú., and then quickly to the Formula 1® Team Village – all in four months’ time. The natural grass football field was removed immediately following the Dolphins’ final home game of the regular season on January 8, and was replaced with a 6,000-seat temporary grandstand and hard court for the international tennis tournament. Following the conclusion of the two-week tournament, the three-story stand was dismantled in just 12 days to allow the F1® team hospitality units to be built in-bowl at Hard Rock Stadium.
The incredible transformation from football field to tennis court to Formula 1® Team Village is a continuation of the global entertainment destination that Hard Rock Stadium has become famous for in recent years, having hosted a multitude of world-class events including major concerts, the Super Bowl, boxing and international soccer.
There are a number of other developments for 2023 and new features that promoters South Florida Motorsports have been working on, thanks to the significant investment from Chairman of the FORMULA 1 CRYPTO.COM MIAMI GRAND PRIX 2023 and Miami Dolphins and Hard Rock Stadium Owner Stephen Ross. Over the past ten months, a brand-new permanent Paddock Club has been constructed above the garages on pit lane. It features a rooftop viewing deck which extends into Hard Rock Stadium. The new three-tier facility houses 6,000 guests and offers amazing views of the final sequence of corners and the start/finish straight.
One of the largest investments made since the inaugural race is the repaving of the track, which was made with the intent to provide best-in-class racing. In conjunction with circuit architects Tilke and based on feedback from the drivers’ council, teams, Formula 1 and the FIA, the entire 3.36-mile course has been re-paved while minor alterations have been made to the Turn 14/15 chicane.
Fans will be able to view the track action from new hospitality spaces, including The Vista at Turn 1 and The Boathouse at MIA Marina, which will offer premium experiences for guests to choose from while still reflecting the culture of Miami. One of the most popular areas on the Campus last year was Hard Rock Beach Club. This luxury space has been enhanced for this year, with more cabana-style seating and entertainment acts already confirmed including superstars Jonas Brothers and Wisin y Yandel headlining Saturday and DJ Tiësto and Cederic Gervais performing on race day. In addition, the world’s first bilingual, Latin girl-group Bella Dose will perform on the track ahead of the race start.
Around the venue, grandstand capacity has been increased to over 55,000 with elevated viewing platforms on Trackside Lane between Turns 8 and 10, an expanded F1 Fan Zone, plus more shaded seating and water stations throughout the Campus. In addition, all pedestrian bridges have been doubled – and in some cases quadrupled – in width to allow for improved flow of traffic so fans can better access all the Campus has to offer.
In further developments, there will be a new area in the in the Campus known as Race Street, where spectators will be able to view luxury car displays, street art by local artists, listen to music and experience the best food and beverage offering that showcase Miami. Returning in 2023 will be a number of luxury spaces that offer world-class hospitality. They include the exclusive, invite-only Palm Club plus the 72 Club presented by J.P. Morgan Payments. Other premium spaces include the Casa Tua Trackside Club, a soulful intimate atmosphere with traditional Italian cuisine catered by one of Miami’s most prestigious restaurants. Award-winning chefs Michelle Bernstein, Brad Kilgore and Lorena Garcia amongst others, will once again bring their exquisite culinary offerings to the racetrack.
“We’ve been working flat-out preparing for our second race and are excited to welcome back Formula 1, the FIA, the teams, drivers, our guests and the fans to experience another brilliant weekend of on-track action,” said Tyler Epp, President of the FORMULA 1 CRYPTO.COM MIAMI GRAND PRIX. “From our incredible new Paddock Club building to the Team Village in Hard Rock Stadium, the enhanced hospitality spaces, food and beverage offerings, and the many changes around campus, I’m proud that our race allows us to showcase so much of Miami’s culture, putting us at the intersection of sports and entertainment. At the heart of it all is world-class racing, and we can’t wait for Miami to be in the spotlight as Formula 1 arrives in America for the first time this year.”
As last year, the community remains at the heart of the FORMULA 1 CRYPTO.COM MIAMI GRAND PRIX. The 2022 event delivered a boost of $350 million to the local economy in both Miami Gardens and the wider South Florida and Greater Miami region. And this year organizers are continuing their F1 in Schools program to help inspire education in science, technology and innovation. In addition, 23 interns are undertaking a 12-week paid program across a variety of departments including event operations, guest experience and marketing. Also, part of the food offering includes 14 minority-owned restaurants from Miami Gardens providing the outlets to showcase their business during race week.
*Excerpted from Miami F1 press release