With the aspiration to equal the “glamour” and luxury of Monte Carlo, Miami hosts this weekend the first Formula One grand prix in Florida since 1959, when perhaps the finale of the most agonizing world championship in history was held in Sebring.
Now, 63 years later, the Miami race aspires to become a kind of Monte Carlo grand prix but with the atmosphere and energy of that city, with parties, a beach atmosphere and everything with a lot of Latin and electronic music.
In fact, the designers of this circuit built around the Hard Rock stadium decided to create an experience similar to Monaco, with a luxury yacht marina and a recreation of the famous beaches of South Florida with almost 24,000 square feet ( 2,200 square meters) and swimming pools in the style of a tourist resort.
But for many they went too far in their attempt and, since they couldn’t put real water in the middle of the circuit, they decided to recreate this marina with a hard, seawater-blue surface on which the yachts stand, which has led to numerous jokes and criticisms on social networks.
The prices of those who paid their entrance to the “Yacht Club” are not a joke either and, according to the “Miami Herald” newspaper, those who want to enter this area of the circuit must pay 9,500 dollars for their individual ticket, 19,000 for the double and 38,000 the one that gives access to four people.
ROAR OF ENGINES AND SPEAKERS
Beyond also being very close to Fort Lauderdale, the so-called Yacht Capital of the World, the Miami Grand Prix is also committed to an entertainment agenda in which music will reign in this complex where the Miami Dolphins play American football and the Miami Tennis Open is also played.
The first of two Formula One circus stops this year in the United States seeks to highlight Miami’s pre-eminence in the dance and Latin music scene.
For this reason, this weekend of live music begins at the nearby Hard Rock hotel, although the concerts can be followed from the stadium, with the performance of various DJs, and will continue with performances by Post Malone, The Chainsmokers, Tiësto and Colombian Maluma, who will give a special performance on the podium after Sunday’s race.
But the most important thing will happen on the newly created asphalt of the Miami International Autodrome, which is 5.41 kilometers long and has 19 curves, three straights and has an estimated maximum speed of 320 kilometers per hour.
It will be premiered this weekend by the best drivers in the world, who arrive at the home of the Miami Dolphins with the intention of maintaining the excitement of the dispute between the Ferraris of Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz, the Red Bulls of Max Verstappen and Checo Pérez and the Mercedes of Lewis Hamilton and George Russell.
But it will be difficult to match the emotion of what was experienced in what was the first Formula One grand prix in the United States. It was held on December 12, 1959 at the now classic Florida circuit of Sebring, where Australian Jack Brabham dramatically won the first of his three world championships.
The sports chronicles of the time tell that Brabham opted not to fill the tank of his Cooper-Climax to gain some speed, but when he was leading and on the last lap his car ran out of fuel.
He needed to score points, so he got out of the car, pushed his car up the hill and crossed the finish line in fourth position, enough to take the world championship.
In that race, New Zealander Bruce McLaren went first, who made history in this sport starting in Sebring, where he became, at the age of 22, the youngest driver to win a Formula One World Championship race, a record that stood for 43 years until the Spaniard Fernando Alonso surpassed him in 2003.
And now, 63 years later, the new Florida Grand Prix is poised to make history.
