Five Things You Didn’t Know About the Miami Grand Prix

Formula 1 is back on our screens this week, as we head Stateside for the Miami Grand Prix. First hosted in 2022, the Miami International Autodrome delivers a big party atmosphere whilst cars loop around the iconic Hard Rock stadium – home to the NFL team the Miami Dolphins - in Miami Gardens.

Last year Kimi became Formula 1’s youngest polesitter when he clocked the fastest non-race time in the circuit’s history during Sprint Qualifying, at just 18 years, 8 months and 7 days.

George also finished third across Sunday’s running, delivering the Silver Arrows their first podium at the Miami venue. It meant at the time that Mercedes had picked up a Grand Prix top-three finish at every circuit on the 2025 rota.

From its iconic founder to the sheer volumes of resources it takes to construct the venue, here are five things you might not know about the Miami Grand Prix.

So. Many. Sports.

Miami is a real hub of sports, and the Hard Rock Stadium is no exception. Of course its main purpose is the home of the Miami Dolphins, who compete in the National Football League (NFL), but the grounds welcome SO many forms of sports and entertainment!

Only last month the stadium welcomed the world’s best tennis players for the Miami Open, with the main hard court being located in the heart of the football field. Aryna Sabalenka took the crown in the Women’s Singles, with hard-core Formula 1 fan Jannik Sinner securing victory in the Men’s Singles.

The Italian tennis player, who is currently ranked number 1 in the world, also celebrated Kimi’s first F1 win at the Japanese Grand Prix that happened on the same day by writing a message on the TV cameras after his tournament victory – legends supporting legends, we think you’ll agree.

It has also hosted the Miami Hurricanes and Formula E, and later this year will be home to FIFA World Cup matches, and concerts from the likes of Bruno Mars, Karol G and Usher.

Building the Track

The Miami International Autodrome is a hybrid circuit of unlike many others in the world. Some parts of the track, like the start-finish straight, are around 365 days a year, but other parts of the track are constructed specially for when F1 rolls into town.

With 300 plus trucks on site, 79,200 feet of fencing, 10,000,000 pounds of steel, 570,000 square feet of turf and 3,100 gallons of paint, the area is quickly transformed and ready for the Miami Grand Prix.

In just 12 days – a task that would normally take 40 – the 16,222-capacity

Miami Open Stadium tennis court is deconstructed and becomes one of the most unique paddocks on the calendar, all sitting within the normal confines of an American Football field.

Planning of this circuit began in the summer of 2019, with the breaking of ground starting in April 2021. It opened on May 6 2022, ready for its inaugural Grand Prix!

Inspired By Local Neighbourhoods

The campus around the circuit has been thoughtfully curated with the local neighbourhoods in mind, with food, drinks and culture from each special area on offer to fans.

These pockets of Miami include Brickell, the city’s financial district, which will feature modern design and shiny metallics to replicate the high-rise cityscape. Inside the food hall you’ll also find famous family-run Miami businesses that specialise in a diverse and authentic flavours from countries like Venezuela and Argentina.

Coconut Grove celebrates all things artistic and natural, replicating the historic waterfront neighbourhood.

There’s also a tribute to Little Havana which is packed with live music, high energy and Cuban cuisines. Fans can also experience ‘The Beach’ inspired by South Beach, Wynwood which is known for its incredible street art, and the Miami Gardens which is where the Hard Rock Stadium is based.

Miami Was Founded by a Woman

The city of Miami is a popular one, and according to the International Trade Administration is the second-most visited US city. Known for its beaches, a lot of which are man-made, Miami has become a global destination for business, entertainment and lots of sun. But did you know that Miami is the only major American city to be founded by a woman?

Julia Tuttle was the visionary behind the changes to the area and is known as the “Mother of Miami”.

In the late 19th century, Tuttle saw the untapped potential of space and purchased hundreds of acres along the Miami river. After a huge freeze swept through Florida in 1894, Tuttle was reported to have sent her untouched and healthy citrus blossoms to railroad tycoon Henry Flager, to show that whilst most crops had been destroyed across the state, Miami was a prime location for development and agriculture.

Her idea was a success, as Flager extended his railroad south to Miami. The city was incorporated on July 28, 1896 with a population of just over 300, and Tuttle’s visionary impact continues to shape the city today.

Longest Contract on the Calendar

Last year the Miami Grand Prix was granted a contract extension, meaning the Miami International Autodrome will be a fixture on the Formula 1 calendar until 2041.

At the time, this was the longest-standing fixture on the schedule, but the Austrian Grand Prix at the Red Bull Ring has also signed a deal to stay until the same year.

The event has proved hugely popular with fans both on-site and among fans, with the 2024 event attracting the largest United States television audience on record for the sport with 3.1 million viewers.