Why the Miami Grand Prix is the most distinctive race in Formula 1

01.05.2024 - 20:19 / insider.com

Heading into its third year, Formula 1's Miami Grand Prix has made a name for itself as a unique spectacle in the sport.

The 3.7-mile racetrack is set up around Hard Rock Stadium — the home of the Miami Dolphins — and the event, which starts this Friday, takes nearly all year to plan.

"We first start looking at the logistics of moving equipment in and out of the stadium about 10 months in advance," said Todd Boyan, a senior vice president of stadium operations with the Miami Dolphins who oversees much of the logistics.

Construction crews also must contend with the Miami Open tennis tournament, which is held on a temporary tennis court within Hard Rock Stadium and concluded this year only five weeks before race day.

"In terms of barriers and grandstands for the track, we have roughly 40% complete before the Miami Open, 20% during, and the remaining 40% complete after the end of the tournament," Boyan said.

That final 40% is no small feat and must be finished within 14 days of the tournament's conclusion.

"We have over 1,000 people on-site each day, and it's a seven-day, 24-hour exercise," Boyan said.

But the logistics' massive scope is just one aspect that sets the Miami Grand Prix apart. Here are more features that make the race a spectacle in Formula 1.

In 2022, the race's inaugural year, Hard Rock Stadium's field wasn't used. Tyler Epp, the Miami Grand Prix's president, said he regretted this decision.

Epp recalled being nervous about the organizers' ability to get the tennis court out and construct the race's buildings in time. But in the race's second year, they realized they could manage it. This year they plan to erect team villages and the paddock area on the field.

The setup means any fan can walk inside the 300-level area of the stadium to view the team villages and paddock and snap photos or spot their favorite drivers.

"The paddock is a special area that typically requires the right type of access," Epp said. "So this gives any fan the unique chance to be a part of the paddock and see what goes on there, how these teams operate. It benefits the average fan up to the luxury buyer."

Initially, designers hoped to build a marina with real water near the track. It would house luxury yachts and act as a nod to F1's famous Monaco Grand Prix. Logistics proved tricky, though, and organizers decided to install a fake marina made out of a vinyl material.

At first that decision drew snickers from fans and a host of memes. But the fake marina has since become one of the race's humorous calling cards. The social-media buzz around it during its first year increased awareness about the race.

"We joke about this a lot internally," Epp said. "We never took ourselves too seriously with the marina. We're not