Sofia Strohmeier

From May 3-5, the Hard Rock Stadium-turned-Miami International Autodrome held its third annual Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix. This year, however, the original race weekend format, consisting of two Friday practices, a third practice and a qualifying session on Saturday and the race on Sunday, was replaced by a sprint weekend. Sprint weekends consist of one practice session and a sprint qualifying on Friday, the sprint race and qualifying session on Saturday and the race on Sunday. Overall, the race saw a massive turnout with over 275,000 attendees, ranging from racing superfans to celebrities such as Camila Cabello and Jimmy Butler.

Some of the fans on the grandstands included Miami Palmetto Senior High students. When senior and Ferrari fan Kaitlyn Castro attended the Grand Prix for the first time, her expectations were exceeded.

“My experience at the Miami Grand Prix was absolutely amazing. It was such a great event to be a part of. The crowd and energy all around the track was so lively and fun and being there exceeded any expectations I had set,” Castro said. “Seeing the cars race around the track was bewildering to watch in person. They are definitely quicker than what I had expected but it was very entertaining to watch the high-speed battles that went on during the race.”

Junior Oscar Gurdian, a lifelong car fan, also attended the race for the first time this year while cheering on his favorite team, Aston Martin.

“My favorite team is Aston Martin. Although they struggled in Miami, they’re definitely a team on the rise. Seeing them burst into F1 and start challenging the big teams for positions is really cool and them being a newcomer and underdog also makes it more exciting for me,” Gurdian said.

The third Miami Grand Prix had a historic result, with McLaren driver Lando Norris winning his first-ever race. After a mid-race safety car, Norris was able to jump to first and take a generous advantage from Red Bull driver Max Verstappen, securing him the lead for the last laps until the checkered flag. Since 2019, Lando Norris has driven in Formula 1 for McLaren, and though he has been on the podium 15 times before, his first victory was long-awaited. Verstappen, two-time World Champion, and current leader, placed second, with Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc finishing third while sporting the special blue livery for the weekend. 

“I felt so much joy for Norris. Seeing him finally take up the top step on the podium felt so right. I knew he had the talent to make it there and to see it finally happen, especially here in the city I call home, was something truly special,” Castro said. “Norris is one of the most talented young drivers in this era of Formula 1 and to see him become a race winner was something that I don’t think I could ever forget,” Castro said.

Along with the Formula 1 sessions, Formula 1 Academy, an all-girl’s racing series, and the Porsche Carrera Cup North America, held races and qualifying sessions. 

“One of the highlights for me was seeing the female drivers in F1 Academy. I had known of the Academy before the race but when I heard some of the drivers were as young as 16 I couldn’t believe that some were younger than me. What they do is super impressive and it’d be awesome to see one of them earn a seat on the F1 grid,” Gurdian said.

The Miami Grand Prix has become an extremely popular event with a substantial turnout and a hub for food, featuring restaurant pop-ups like Novecento and Tacology, performances from artists such as Ed Sheeran and John Summit, celebrity encounters and anything racing-related. For years to come, the Miami Grand Prix will be a staple weekend for the Magic City and for the Formula 1 calendar.