Packed grandstands, a sun-soaked racetrack and a high-energy festival atmosphere set the stage as the Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix roared back into life for its fifth edition with an action-packed race weekend at the Miami International Autodrome.
The Miami International Autodrome in South Florida is hosting the fourth race in this year’s FIA Formula 1 World Championship, following the postponement of the rounds in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia in April. The enforced break due to the crisis in the Gulf has resulted in a five-week gap since the Japanese Grand Prix.
Around the reimagined Miami International Autodrome, there are plenty of new fan-friendly initiatives this year, including dividing the campus into zones that reflect different districts of the city. From the colorful street art of Wynwood to the coastal atmosphere of Key Biscayne, fans can embark on a journey through the places to visit in Miami without ever leaving the racetrack. Each neighborhood will also showcase some of the city’s most popular restaurants.
The famous marina has also been reimagined for 2026, with a new luxury hospitality offering. The MSC Yacht Club is a five-deck, lifelike superyacht with views overlooking the sequence from Turns 5 to 9.
Away from the racetrack, the Formula 1 Crypto.com Miami Grand Prix will host a fan festival that will take place at Lummus Park on Miami Beach. The free-admission, five-day event will show all the on-track action on big screens, alongside a stage area, team activations, and fan zone-style simulators taking place in Miami race week.
This is in addition to the usual DJ sets and entertainment planned at the circuit, which this year includes performances at the Hard Rock Beach Club featuring Zedd, Nelly, Marshmello, DJ Diesel (Shaquille O’Neal), Kane Brown and more.
Mercedes are the team to beat, having won all three races so far in 2026. Driver George Russell claimed victory in the season opener in Melbourne, while his teammate Kimi Antonelli triumphed in China and Japan.
Looking ahead to the next F1 race in Miami, it would be impossible to discount the Ferraris of Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc, along with former winners in Miami, McLaren’s Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris, as well as Red Bull Racing’s Max Verstappen. Fans will also be able to see the new rules play out in Miami Gardens, which have already guaranteed plenty of action this year.
Fans filled the campus around Hard Rock Stadium to enjoy the blend of world-class racing and premium entertainment as the 2026 race weekend burst into action.
Lando Norris returned to Miami Gardens to secure pole position for the Sprint race. The reigning world champion, who claimed his maiden Grand Prix victory at this venue in 2023, continued his strong record in Miami by setting a benchmark time of 1m27.869s in Sprint qualifying, 0.222s faster than 2026 World Championship points leader Kimi Antonelli. McLaren underlined their pace with Oscar Piastri securing third, while Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, fastest in earlier practice, will line up fourth on the Sprint grid.
The action continues at the Miami International Autodrome with the F1 Sprint race, qualifying for Sunday’s Grand Prix, the Formula 2 Sprint race, and support series action from Porsche Carrera Cup and the McLaren Trophy.
“As we kick off the fifth edition of our Grand Prix, we are proud to continue building something that is distinctly and authentically Miami,” said Katharina Nowak, President of the Formula 1 Crypto.com Miami Grand Prix. “Our focus has been on evolving the event while staying true to its identity, creating a platform where sport, culture and business intersect in a way that is unique within Formula 1. The growth of this event has been incredible to see, and we are excited to keep innovating as we look to the future. It’s a really exciting time for Formula 1 right now, and we are honored to play a role in building and growing the sport here in the United States.”
Plans were revealed to further elevate the event’s premium hospitality offering with a significant expansion of the Paddock Club. The new 115,000-square-foot extension, set for completion ahead of the 2027 race, will stretch from the start/finish straight to Turn 1, building on the permanent structure introduced in 2023 and reinforcing Miami’s position as one of the most luxurious experiences on the Formula 1 calendar.
