Miami International Autodrome

Miami International Autodrome history

The Miami International Autodrome made a showbiz entrance to the Formula 1 calendar in 2022 with its temporary circuit around Hard Rock Stadium, home of the Miami Dolphins. It is a 19-turn, 3.36 mile street circuit which uses parking facilities adjacent to the NFL stadium and marked the second time F1 has visited Florida after Sebring hosted the 1959 United States Grand Prix.

Miami’s debut was highly anticipated and it came several years in the making, as Lewis Hamilton in the 2017 Australian GP press conference said his one wish was for a race in the coastal city. This almost came to fruition much earlier than it actually did, but plans to do so were rebuffed in 2017 by a local residents group and nearby activists again tried to stop the track’s creation in later years.

However, city commissioners including the Mayor of Miami Gardens - the local area - Rodney Harris voted in favour of the project so planning was soon underway. The target was to then host the debut race in 2021 but that was delayed to 2022, which was also F1’s opening season of its ground effect era.

It was the fifth round of the 2022 season happening across 6-8 May where Charles Leclerc in the Ferrari claimed his third pole position of the year. But, Ferrari’s race pace was not strong enough to keep Max Verstappen’s Red Bull behind as the world champion overtook Leclerc’s team-mate Carlos Sainz for second at the start before claiming the race lead on lap nine.

Verstappen then had the race firmly under control to claim victory by 3.7 seconds over Leclerc, but F1 was not the only championship racing that weekend. W Series was an F1 support event and Jamie Chadwick won both Miami races before the championship’s demise later in 2022.

Porsche Sprint Challenge North America also raced in Miami that year, before the Porsche Carrera Cup made its debut at the circuit in 2023. Verstappen also made it back-to-back wins in Miami, despite starting the 2023 grand prix from ninth on the grid.

The 2023 Miami GP was also much talked about away from the racing, as F1’s paddock moved inside Hard Rock Stadium. This meant hospitality units for all F1 teams were on the pitch making it unlike any grand prix circuit in the world.

Miami will be back for the 2024 season where it is F1’s sixth round of the year with the venue becoming an established part of the series, with its contract running until at least 2031. The all-female F1 Academy will also visit Miami in its sophomore year with the venue acting as the 2024 season’s second weekend.

Miami International Autodrome fastest lap

Verstappen holds the Miami International Autodrome’s lap record with a 1m29.708s, however the unofficial lap record is a 1m26.814s set by the Red Bull driver a day prior in the second part of qualifying for the 2023 Miami GP.

The triple world champion claimed the official lap record on lap 56 of the 2023 race, thus beating Verstappen’s own record from 2022 where he set a 1m31.361s on lap 54.