F1 Comes to Miami

Words: Bill Springer

Photography: Courtesy of F1

PICTURED: The boats at the Miami Grand Prix were some of the best "seats" at the track.

PICTURED: The boats at the Miami Grand Prix were some of the best "seats" at the track.

Miami proved to be the perfect venue for F1.

“ IT’S NOT EASY TO PUT ON AN EVENT LIKE THIS, AND THEY DID AN AMAZING JOB.”

— Max Verstappen

Current F1 World Champion Max Verstappen of Red Bull Racing may have held off a late race charge from Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc to win in the first-ever Formula 1 Crypto.com Maimi Grand Prix earlier this year.

But I’m just going to come out and say it. All of the members of the capacity crowd that filled F1’s newest track complex all weekend long, and the millions of new American fans that have fallen in love with F1 after binge-watching Netflix’s smash hit Drive to Survive, were probably the biggest winners.

Any concerns about track design, construction, and overall event management were put to rest when fans started to stream into the large venue built around the Hard Rock stadium. The top three drivers were full of praise for the track and organization, too: “It’s not easy to put on an event like this, and they did an amazing job,” said race winner Verstappen.

Miami proved to be the perfect venue for F1.

PICTURED: Watching the race from the yachts that were positioned mere feet from the track on turns 6, 7, and 8 was better than any place else.

PICTURED: Watching the race from the yachts that were positioned mere feet from the track on turns 6, 7, and 8 was better than any place else.

But since I’ve seen how the gravitational pull of F1 brings celebrities and royalty together with superyacht owners and automotive speed freaks in Monaco and other destinations, I’m not surprised. In fact, Miami proved to be the perfect American city to host this new Formula 1 Grand Prix because of the unique way the city celebrates beach life, nightlife, innovative American entrepreneurship, and its diverse international community.

And while the racers praised the track, the dry-dock marina at the Miami International Autodrome (pictured on the lead spread) that was specifically built to bring a unique Miami-vibe fan experience to the race got lots of attention, too.

Located on the inside of turns 6, 7, and 8, the MSC Cruises Yacht Club at the MIA Marina featured 10 yachts that were transported to the track on trailers to provide a killer trackside experience as well as to be a comfortable and spacious area to watch the race for a highly select group of guests.

The yachts, measuring from 67 to 44 feet long, really looked like they were floating in “water” that was made from a special vinyl floor. Since the marina was designed to be able to accommodate only 185 guests per day, a ticket from Denison Yachting to watch the race aboard any of the yachts that were there was one of the hottest tickets of the weekend.

PICTURED: Michael Jordan, Duane Wade, Lebron James, Serena Williams, and even Paris Hilton were only a few of the A-list celebs at the inaugural Miami Grand Prix.

PICTURED: Michael Jordan, Duane Wade, Lebron James, Serena Williams, and even Paris Hilton were only a few of the A-list celebs at the inaugural Miami Grand Prix.

PICTURED: Michael Jordan, Duane Wade, Lebron James, Serena Williams, and even Paris Hilton were only a few of the A-list celebs at the inaugural Miami Grand Prix.

PICTURED: Michael Jordan, Duane Wade, Lebron James, Serena Williams, and even Paris Hilton were only a few of the A-list celebs at the inaugural Miami Grand Prix.

PICTURED: Michael Jordan, Duane Wade, Lebron James, Serena Williams, and even Paris Hilton were only a few of the A-list celebs at the inaugural Miami Grand Prix.

And Denison Yachting will have an even bigger presence there next year.

And plenty of superyachts were in Miami for the race, too. One party I attended was organized by My Yacht Group aboard Dr. Jonathan Rothberg’s 185-foot-long Damen Support Vessel Gene Chaser.

When it comes to serious celebrity star power, nothing topped the paddock and grid area shortly before the race started on Sunday afternoon.

Superstars that were milling around the cars and drivers on the grid before the race included Michael Jordan, Venus and Serena Williams, LeBron James, David Beckham, Michael Douglas, Pharrell, Michael Bay, and even Paris Hilton, along with numerous Miami Dolphins players and head coach Mike McDaniel.

I'm totally hooked after experiencing the inaugural Formula 1 Crypto.com Miami Grand Prix for myself earlier this year.

And I know next year is going to be even better. See you there?