Welcome to the Miami Grand Prix, earning the moniker of America`s Monaco.
As you read that sentence, you might almost hear the collective gasp and engines redlining among fellow motorsports enthusiasts. The sound could be a mix of Nigel Mansell`s engine cutting out in Montreal in 1991 and Juan Pablo Montoya`s reaction after a run-in with a camera operator.
This isn`t intended as a direct, one-to-one comparison between the two races. That would be premature, unfair, and quite frankly, silly – akin to comparing Oscar Piastri with Juan Manuel Fangio, or the Pop-Tarts Bowl with the Rose Bowl. However, when evaluating this four-year-old event against its nearly centenarian counterpart on the Mediterranean coast, the race witnessed this weekend doesn`t appear as shoddy as those who initially dismissed it as the `Parking Lot GP` back in 2022 suggested.
So, perhaps grab a mojito, don a pastel shirt, and allow me a moment to elaborate on the notion of Miami as America`s Monaco.
No, the Miami Grand Prix doesn`t feature Formula 1 cars speeding through the waterfront streets of South Beach, unlike the previous motorsport events that bore the same title here in the Magic City. From the 1980s until 2015, sports cars, IndyCars, and Formula E machines navigated the very streets where Sonny Crockett once pursued criminals.
And no, you won`t find multi-million dollar yachts nearby, laden with scantily clad beautiful people, gently swaying in the ancient waters of Port Hercules, sipping champagne while awaiting race cars to exit the tunnel and enter the Nouvelle Chicane.
Furthermore, this weekend`s race circuit isn`t flanked by the iconic stone-and-wrought-iron-trimmed high-stakes playgrounds of the wealthy, famous, and those licensed to kill (like 007).
However, the venue hosting F1 this weekend does bear the name of a casino: Hard Rock Stadium. There is indeed an entire fleet of very extravagant yachts filled with equally extravagant people enjoying very extravagant drinks, though these yachts are famously not actually floating; they`re anchored on trailers surrounded by artificial blue waters. Nevertheless, having been there, I can attest they offer some of the best seats on the Miami GP circuit. They`re also remarkably cool – literally. One of the few air-conditioned spots in what can be a sweltering fan experience. While I didn`t have to pay for the $180 carne asada nachos or the $280 lobster rolls – they were provided for me to eat on TV in 2022 – they were undeniably amazing. And don`t just take my word for it. No sooner had I wiped the lemon aioli from my mouth than a guy crashed into my table, much like the first turn at Silverstone that same season.
“I gotta have another one of those empanadas, man!”
It was will.i.am.
“I`m not going to pretend to be some sort of auto racing expert, because I`m not,” the leader of the Black Eyed Peas, a man who knows when tonight`s gonna be a good night, told me. “But what I do know is when something is a party. A real party. This race is a real party.”
Let`s be honest, the primary measure of greatness for any F1 event isn`t necessarily the racing itself. It rarely has been in a series where one exciting overtake can make a race instantly classic. And racing has certainly never been Monaco`s hallmark, where passing has been challenging since the 1970s. There have even been significant debates in recent years – notably from Red Bull boss Christian Horner – suggesting Monaco might no longer merit a place on the Formula 1 calendar. But the true charm of Grand Prix racing`s signature historic event, and the factor that will always safeguard its spot on the schedule, is the event itself. The atmosphere. The vibes. The gold-standard barometer that has always been used to gauge true F1 race weekend brilliance.
“Look at this red carpet! It feels like we`re at a movie premiere, or the Grammys!”
Like Mr. i.am`s remark, that exclamation came from a famous person, pointing out other famous people, who all appeared thoroughly impressed by the sheer number of celebrities attending the 2023 Miami GP, despite constantly being surrounded by other famous people.
“I saw Serena and Venus earlier, and LL Cool J,” Tom Cruise continued excitedly, strolling towards the grid. Yes, Cole Trickle has walked the Miami International Autodrome, on at least two occasions. “I know this race is still very new and I know there are other amazing F1 venues in the United States now, but I think this place has become the must-attend Stateside event.”
Mr. Trickle raises an excellent point, one that must be acknowledged before proceeding. The Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, now nearly 13 years old, is a genuine F1 road course with no shortage of celebrities, including de facto Austin mayor and United States Grand Prix host Matthew McConaughey. The Las Vegas GP, soon to host its third edition, is unmatched in terms of pure spectacle – it literally races down the Las Vegas Strip! However, no one would ever claim that course, whose map resembles the Klondike ice cream bear lounging on its back, offers the greatest layout for racing.
(At this juncture, American motorsports purists might exclaim, “But what about the Grand Prix of Long Beach?!” Long Beach is fantastic. Anyone who has been there and witnessed racing machines streaming through the Fountain Turn knows this. F1 raced there between 1976 and 1983 before Champ Car/IndyCar took over and made it their signature event. Everyone should experience it; trust me. But alas, this discussion focuses on F1.)
Miami positions itself perfectly between Austin and Las Vegas regarding an American F1 identity. The circuit, while not flawless, has improved. The spectacle, while not quite on the level of racing under the gaze of the Sphere or the roller coaster atop the Stratosphere, features more local character than a remote, purpose-built track like COTA. For proof, one need only glance up at the aqua-blue-and-coral coliseum at the heart of it all.
Because what three letters could possibly encapsulate American racing excitement more than roaring around a stadium made famous by the N-F-L?
“For me, that`s an aspect of this location that I do love,” says Lewis Hamilton, never the biggest fan of the Miami Autodrome circuit itself, but seemingly appreciative of Hard Rock Stadium – the venue formerly known as Joe Robbie Stadium, Pro Player Park, Dolphins Stadium, Land Shark Stadium, and Sun Life Stadium. It`s home to the Miami Dolphins and the University of Miami Hurricanes, and was the former home of the two-time World Series champion Marlins. “When they moved a lot of our hospitality and events inside the stadium the second year, walking onto that field was pretty amazing to think about all of the great moments that have happened there, especially in the NFL.”
This hallowed ground, once powered by Dan Marino`s downfield passing attack, now hosts 1,000-horsepower aerodynamic marvels driven by downforce. The building where Urban Meyer and Tim Tebow strategized to defeat Bob Stoops and Sam Bradford for the 2009 BCS Championship Game is now where F1 teams hunker down to devise their race tactics. A race that traverses parking lots packed with tailgaters in the fall and rattles the structure where Cam Ward honed his skills before becoming last week`s top NFL draft pick, will spend this weekend with McLarens, Red Bulls, and Ferraris actively drafting and certainly `tailgating` (in a racing sense), covering nearly 3½ miles and 19 turns in about 90 seconds.
Is it the south of France? No. It`s South Florida. And that`s perfectly fine. Because if it`s appealing enough for Brad Pitt, Shakira, and Max Verstappen, then America`s Monaco should be more than cool enough for the rest of us mere Miami Mortals.
“The vision behind creating this race was to highlight what we love about racing, but also what we love about Miami,” states Emerson Fittipaldi, a two-time Formula 1 world champion and long-time Miami resident. He never won in Monaco but achieved a pole position and three podium finishes there. Emmo also secured a top-10 finish in the Champ Car version of the Miami GP in 1987. “This Grand Prix is a wonderful time at the racetrack. I believe anyone who attends or has attended will agree. And who doesn`t want to have a wonderful time?”
Dominic Ashworth