F1 Miami Grand Prix Kicks Into Gear Ahead Of Race Weekend

• Miami race weekend starts with a packed day of media activities, community initiatives, and an F1 driver/Dolphins football player crossover on the field of Hard Rock Stadium

• Opening day at the Miami International Autodrome also celebrated Women Drive — a forum championing female leadership in motorsport and business

• The annual Community Night: Igniting Possibilities welcomed local college students who enjoyed a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to tour the venue

• The entertainment got underway with a special Opening Night event featuring Ferrari drivers on the iconic Miami podium ahead of a weekend of on-track action

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – The build-up to this year’s FORMULA 1 CRYPTO.COM MIAMI GRAND PRIX started in style with a dynamic opening day at the Miami International Autodrome, celebrating empowerment, community and the anticipation of an exciting weekend of on-track action and entertainment. The highlight of the day was Women Drive, a powerful forum championing women leading change in Formula 1 and beyond. Held at Hard Rock Stadium — the backdrop to the Miami International Autodrome — inside the paddock, Women Drive brought together trailblazers across sport and business to spotlight the vital role women play in driving progress.

Joined by Tyler Epp, President, FORMULA 1 CRYPTO.COM MIAMI GRAND PRIX and Stefano Domenicali, President & CEO, Formula 1, the forum welcomed members of the F1 community and featured four inspiring speakers: Susie Wolff, Managing Director, F1 ACADEMY, Lindsey Vonn, Olympic Champion and Entrepreneur, Maggie Timoney, President & CEO, HEINEKEN USA and Radhika Jones, Editor-in-Chief, Vanity Fair. Together, they explored how women are not only shaping the Miami F1 experience, but are redefining leadership across business and sport.

Kathy Nowak, Vice President of Business Operations, FORMULA 1 CRYPTO.COM MIAMI GRAND PRIX closed the Women Drive event by saying: “I moved to the Formula 1 side of our business when we first held our inaugural Grand Prix four years ago and in every room I sit, we have women leading key functions of our business and driving us forward. I’m inspired every day by the women who work with us, so we wanted to kick off our race weekend with the Women Drive platform. We want to be known as a race for driving women forward on and off the track. We want to be a place that is supporting women, challenging women and inspiring women, and that includes everyone in the F1 paddock.”

The opening day of the FORMULA 1 CRYPTO.COM MIAMI GRAND PRIX also reaffirmed South Florida Motorsports’ commitment to local engagement, with a full schedule of programming for over 125 students from Miami Gardens and the surrounding area. The Community Night: Igniting Possibilities welcomed local youth for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to listen to Q&A sessions with drivers, in addition to rare, behind-the-scenes insights into motorsport careers and STEM opportunities.

Later in the day, students enjoyed an exclusive experience with tours of the F1 and F1 ACADEMY paddock and a visit to the pit lane. Students also participated in a LEGO activation, building custom cars, witnessing the unveiling of a life-sized LEGO models of Formula 1 cars, and receiving a surprise LEGO set to take home. Dinner was provided by Reggae Beats, one of the 15 Community Restaurant partners featured at this year’s event.

Community engagement will continue across the weekend under the theme Igniting Possibilities. Located in the Promenade section of the Miami Campus, the Community Zone will feature interactive STEM games, reaction tests and F1 simulators in collaboration with S.E.E.K. Foundation — a local education organization and MIA in Schools partner.

Also at the track today, Formula 1 drivers including Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll, Red Bull’s Yuki Tsunoda, Racing Bulls pair Liam Lawson and Isack Hadjar, Sauber’s Nico Hülkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto, and Haas drivers Esteban Ocon and Oliver Bearman took to the field of Hard Rock Stadium for an American football field goal challenge. They competed alongside a selection of Miami Dolphins players, including Jaelan Phillips, Bradley Chubb, Quinton Bell and Pharaoh Brown — with Esteban Ocon winning the competition.

Dolphins players — Aaron Brewer, Zach Sieler, Patrick Paul, Ashtyn Davis and Pharaoh Brown — also took part in a series of Pirelli Hot Laps for high-speed passenger runs around the circuit alongside professional drivers, with Dolphins Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa getting a ride from McLaren’s Oscar Piastri.

Speaking earlier today, Alpine’s Pierre Gasly praised the Miami event and is looking forward to getting on track tomorrow: “I must say, I love everything about it. Miami is a cool city,” said Gasly. “It’s always got great energy in town and I love the fact that it’s one of those races with the time difference, so you get to visit slightly earlier — and I find myself having a night out and going to some nice restaurants. You feel the vibe of Miami, which is quite different to what we’re used to back in Europe. So yes, it’s a very cool place.”

The evening concluded with a special Opening Night celebration on the iconic Miami podium, hosted by Sky Sports F1 commentator David Croft, featuring appearances by Ferrari drivers Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc, 2009 World Champion Jenson Button, Miami F1 Ambassador Guenther Steiner and Safety Car driver Bernd Mayländer. This special event rewarded grandstand members, the race’s grandstand loyalty program, partners and other special guests.

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