The Hard Rock Beach Club Is The Ultimate F1 Experience For EDM Fans

14.05.2024 - 13:11 / forbes.com

The 2024 Miami Grand Prix marked the third year on the Formula One calendar, and it was an absolute banger of a race. McLaren driver Lando Norris scored his maiden F1 victory in spectacular fashion under the South Florida sunshine. Benefiting from a safety car caused by a crash between Nico Hulkenberg and Logan Sargeant, Norris was able to pit for fresh tires while still maintaining the race lead. From there, he held off Max Verstappen, who’d already pitted and had minor floor damage, to become the third driver to win a race in the first seven races of the 2024 season.

I was fortunate enough to experience this historic victory from the Hard Rock Beach Club, which is situated along turns 11, 12 and 13 at the east end of the race venue. Admittedly, I had to re-watch the race when I got home because this particular F1 experience is equal parts race spectating, dancing to international DJs, partying with beautiful people and dining at a Vegas-like day club. There’s a lot to distract from the racing, and that’s by design. Let’s call it a hedge against boring races, where Verstappen cruises to another “lovely” victory while the rest of the teams (plus Sergio Perez) helplessly watch. Fortunately, that wasn’t the case in 2024, which made the experience that much more memorable.

The Beach Club itself is a proper concert venue with a main stage and multiple, massive screens above it that show the entertainers and the race action. There are two pools on the deck, which are lined by day beds. The back of the complex features two levels of cabanas that curve along the track from turns 11 to 13 in a U-shaped configuration with bars in the center on both levels. Given access to the cabanas themselves, you’re not limited to only the view of your cabana, as it’s possible to walk to all of the others and mingle your way to alternate views. This is a slower part of the track with grandstands on the opposite side, so you get to see the cars for more than a passing glimpse. Plus, the roar from the crowd gives you that F1 crowd energy but from the comfort and shade of a cabana.

The key draw of the Beach Club experience is the off-track entertainment. With five minutes to go before lights out, EDM sensation John Summit was on the decks for his second set of the day and dropped his 2024 hit Shiver, complete with cryo canons blasting over a packed dance floor. The club views from the second level of the cabanas are spectacular. And then five minutes later, you turn 180 degrees and walk to the railing behind the cabana to see all 20 F1 cars file by for lap one. As with any place along the track, you can’t truly follow the race without the live television feed that shows the time gaps and replays. And while each cabana has its