For the second straight year the Formula 1 race is being held in Miami, on a state-of-the-art course built through parking lots adjacent to Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. Make no mistake: This is no simple drive through a sea of concrete. The 19-turn track winds past a beach, a marina, palm trees, 11 grandstands and countless fan zones. And it will feature the world’s best drivers speeding by so close you can almost see the excitement in their eyes. See our guide to Formula 1 Crypto.com Miami Grand Prix, coming to Greater Miami & Miami Beach May 5-7, 2023.
Formula 1 differs from other auto racing not just in the types of cars used, but also in the scene surrounding it. Hospitality tents, celebrities and weekend-long parties accompany the circuit. It’s a natural fit in the country’s biggest event destination.
What is the Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix?
The Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix is a three-day event held in early May. On Friday, May 5, drivers will practice on the Miami International Autodrome, which winds around Hard Rock Stadium. Saturday brings more practice and qualifying, and Sunday is the day of the main race and the biggest parties. The cutting-edge race cars will reach an estimated top speed of nearly 200 miles an hour around the Miami International Autodrome, a 3.36-mile, 19-turn track with three straightaways. Miami is the fifth race of the 23-race season, which starts in Bahrain and winds through Monaco, Great Britain and Singapore, among other destinations, before winding up in Abu Dhabi. Formula 1’s top drivers will be going head to head, including defending champion Max Verstappen, phenom Lando Norris and fan-favorite and seven-time F1 champion Lewis Hamilton.
Best Places to Watch the Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix
The 2022 race sold out quickly, so capacity for this year’s race has been increased to 56,000, including 3,000 new grandstand seats, 61 new hospitality suites and two new luxury clubs – The Vista at Turn 1 and The Boathouse at MIA Marina. Race organizers have also added a new three-day general admission Campus Pass, which is similar to a grounds pass in tennis in that passholders can watch the action from a number of track-side viewing areas. Among the eight grandstands placed along the track, the seats at the Start/Finish Line offer some of the best views of the action (the Turn 1 Grandstand also promises great views). The Turn 18 Grandstand sits right on the pits and offers views of three turns along the course’s busiest stretch. This year also brings a new Family Grandstand along the south straight, between turns 10 and 11, for those looking for a kid-friendly experience. If you want to party while watching the race, the Marina Grandstand might be your best choice. It allows unlimited access to the Marina area, which is full of food, cocktails and large screens showing the race. Each grandstand will also boast its own “fan zone,” where you’ll find food from local restaurants and plenty to drink. Campus Pass holders will also have access to the Marina area, though getting onto one of the yachts parked there isn’t included. For a VIP experience, check out the race’s hospitality tents. This year, the Paddock Club has been upgraded and expanded into a multi-story permanent facility where 6,000 guests will have prime views of pit lane and the Start/Finish Line. You can also hang out in the 72 Club, the stadium’s premier club for football games, which has been transformed into an F1 viewing lounge. The MIA Hospitality Club and Village returns this year, as do the premium seats in the Veranda Club, where you can watch the action at both Turn 3 and a long straight simultaneously. You’ll also find new hospitality spaces at The Vista at Turn 1 and The Boathouse at MIA Marina.
New Team Village Inside Hard Rock Stadium
Perhaps the most exciting addition for 2023 is the Team Village, set up on the football field inside Hard Rock Stadium. This is where drivers, pit crews and other race team members will be based throughout the weekend. Guests can get a bird’s-eye view of the behind-the-scenes action from the stadium’s 300 level. The viewing deck will be open to all ticketholders and Campus Pass holders, and will be open for the duration of the event.
Ticket Sales and Tips for Attending the Event
Tickets at nearly every level are available for the 2023 Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix (as of February 2023). Seats in all eight grandstand areas are available and start at about $750 for a three-day pass. Campus passes start at $590 for the entire weekend. Suites, clubs and other luxury experiences must all be booked by appointment. If you’ve already scored tickets and are new to the race, here are a few things to keep in mind: Miami Gardens is about 15 miles north of Downtown Miami. It can take upwards of 45 minutes to an hour to reach Miami Gardens from Downtown Miami during peak traffic times. Limited onsite parking will be available for those in hospitality tents. Grandstand ticket holders will be able to park in satellite lots and take shuttles to the track. Rideshares are available to and from the stadium, but they usually pick up and drop off at Norwood Elementary School, a 15- to 20-minute walk from the track.
