Why The Miami GP Is The Must-See Formula 1 Event For Every American Fan

Alex Albon details what's to love about the Miami Grand Prix ahead of the race weekend.

Alex Harrington arrived at the paddock for his interview with Williams driver Alex Albon. But before they started on the nerdy stuff, he wanted to discuss how America celebrates the sport differently to Europe. The British-Thai driver is used to the heat and humidity of Florida, but he outlines why Miami is a special race that every American F1 fan will enjoy.

There's a can of cold water in the centre of the table where Alex and I are talking. Fortunately, the Williams hospitality tent is air-conditioned, as is every building I've been in this week. In fact, it's freezing in the Media Centre. I jot that down in the notes I'm making: "Must bring hat next year - ears are cold". 

An amazing interview wit @alex_albon which you'll see more of tomorrow morning!

But right now, I'm leaving the hotel to attend a party hosted by Lewis Hamilton himself where I might get the chance to interview the 7-time champion.

What is this life?!#F1 #F1twt #MiamiGP pic.twitter.com/HvA0KmGhrN

— Alex Harrington (@AlexOnRacing) May 4, 2023

But step outside and you're hit with heat and humidity no Englishman like myself is used to, and I'm sweating through my shirt just watching national media buzz around with their large cameras. In the paddock, we're treated to American football players joking and bustling with F1 drivers, and there are even presenters getting involved with Sky Sport F1's David Croft showing the F1 drivers what's up. 

There's music thumping through the ground, celebrities at ever corner, and it's surreal to be walking in the same air as the drivers I've admired for so much of my life. 

I'm sat waiting for Alex to join me, and as a drip of condensation slides down the side of y can of water, he walks through the door, laughing with a wide smile, before throwing an American football back into the centre of the paddock. 

The drivers enjoy this place. You can see it in their faces as they rock up to the paddock in the latest styles, enjoying the sun and basking in the atmosphere of one of F1's most exciting events.

I ask Alex what he thinks.

Alex Albon: It actually reminds me of Thailand, really of humidity, heat. It's really intense and especially when we've spent a lot of the time in Europe,

it's a bit of a shock to the system when you go here., but it's great to come back to Miami. It feels like it's always a special event. Everyone goes big here. There's always custom helmets, custom liveries on the cars. It's the first one that comes to America and it's always a bit of a surprise every time just to see how big F1 has come in America.

Alex Harrington: Are you finding that the people in Miami celebrate F1 differently? 

AA: I would say it's a bit more like... just genuinely having a good time. It's more of a party atmosphere, I think sometimes in Europe it's more about the racing and this is more about the lifestyle and a bit more of the fun around the paddock.

And obviously everywhere, there's bars, we've got a fake yacht, swimming pool area. 

AH: But real water this year?

AA: Real water this year yeah! So we're upgrading, by the end of, in about five years, we're actually gonna be in the middle of the harbour.

AH: As Vettel predicted... I see you're at the top of the scoreboard?

AA: I've just been replaced... 

AH: Oh, we'll cut that bit from the interview. 

AA: No hard feelings to Nyck but It's kind of surprising because we do these marketing things and we obviously do a lot, especially when we come to America, it's a bit more intense than in other circus we come to.

But they got us on a combined course. Like we're literally doing a fitness test a day before practice. I mean, we get paid well but I still consider it that we're not getting paid well enough [he joked].

AH: I'm surprised by how quick Yuki and Nyck are. They are fast. 

AA: Low centre of gravity. Shame it doesn't work in the car [he joked again].

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There have been a number of changes to this year's Miami GP to make the experience for fans even better than before. 

For one, the track has been resurfaced to improve the racing. 2022's race offered over 40 overtakes, much more than the season average, but a lot of these weren't aired by F1. this year promises to be different. The first two DRS zones have been shortened resulting in a mixed response from fans, but the real changes comes in the infrastructure around the track. 

The F1 paddock is now housed within the Hard Rock Stadium, allowing fans with general admission tickets to sit in the seats of the stadium and look down on the action. Bring a zoom lens, and you might be able to take photos of your favourite Drive to Survive characters. Guenther Steiner, for example. 

Tyler Epp, race president, said the following:

“After an incredible debut race, we have been working flat-out to ensure the 2023 event is an even greater experience for everyone visiting the Miami International Autodrome. Stephen Ross and Tom Garfinkel are committed to making May’s event a best-in-class experience that is unlike any other Formula 1 race in the world.

With new and enhanced hospitality experiences, the creation of the F1 Team Village directly on the football field and increased capacity we are expecting our second race to be even bigger and better for the fans, the teams, drivers, partners and everyone in South Florida.”

There have also been huge improvements made to the hospitality areas for fans. There's more of everything, including shade which was a focus for the management here. But most impressive is an all-new paddock club, which stands overlooking the grid of the track, capable of housing 6,000 viewers. 

It's truly a spectacle to behold. And while it is a little pricey, it's an experience than you mustn't reject if you're able.