Advertisement

F1 is coming back to Miami! How many laps is it? What to know about 2024 Miami Grand Prix

dan rorabaugh, usa today network - florida
·6 min read

Hard Rock Stadium is going to be louder than usual this weekend. No, the Miami Dolphins aren't holding a surprise open practice. F1 racing is coming back to Miami Gardens.

The 2024 Miami Grand Prix will be the third iteration of the open-wheel race in South Florida. It's one of three F1 races held in the United States: The series will return in October to Austin, Texas, and head to Las Vegas in November.

What NASCAR is to America, F1 is to the world's auto racing fans. Things are a little different, though, starting with the temporary track built around the Dolphins' stadium to hold this race. If you're looking to go see the race or want to watch from home right after getting caught up on "Drive to Survive," here's what you need to know about Miami's F1 race this weekend:

Where is the Miami Grand Prix track? Where will be Miami F1 race be held?

The Miami International Autodrome is constructed around Hard Rock Stadium, home of the Miami Dolphins and Miami Hurricanes football team. The track is 5.412 km long, or 3.363 miles. By comparison, the track at Daytona International Speedway is 2.5 miles, while the road course at Homestead-Miami Speedway is 2.21 miles.

How long is an F1 race?

A grand prix race usually lasts 2 hours, according to Formula One. The record for the fastest F1 finish is held by Michael Schumaker, according to Red Bull, who won the 2003 Italian Grand Prix in 1 hour, 14 minutes and 19.838 seconds.

How many laps is the Miami GP?

Racers will complete 57 laps of the 5.412 km circuit. The Miami Grand Prix track has total distance of 308.326 km long, or just over 191.5 miles.

The fastest lap recorded at the Miami Grand Prix was run by Max Verstappen in 2023, when he completed a lap in 1 minute, 29.708 seconds.

What time is the F1 race in Miami?

The 2024 Miami Grand Prix is scheduled to start about 4 p.m. Sunday, May 5.

Who won the 2023 Miami Grand Prix?

Max Verstappen won the first two Miami Grand Prix in 2022 and 2023. The three-time reigning F1 champion won last year's race from the No. 9 position, beating polesitter Sergio Perez by more than 5 seconds. Verstappen, now 26, beat polesitter Charles LeClerc by nearly 4 seconds in 2022 to win the inaugural race.

Is there an American F1 driver? Who is Logan Sargeant?

Williams Racing driver Logan Sargeant of United States talks to fans at the Driver Engagement event at the Formula 1 Lenovo United States Grand Prix at Circuit of the Americas on Friday October 20, 2023.
Williams Racing driver Logan Sargeant of United States talks to fans at the Driver Engagement event at the Formula 1 Lenovo United States Grand Prix at Circuit of the Americas on Friday October 20, 2023.

There will be one driver from the U.S. taking part in the Miami Grand Prix, and he's a Florida man. Logan Sargeant was born in Fort Lauderdale on December 31, 2000. He entered F1 in 2023, and in 26 grand prix so far, his highest finish is 10th. F1 says he was the first American racer in eight years.

Will Taylor Swift be at the Miami F1 race?

Formula One races are known for having a host of celebrities routinely in attendance. The U.S. Sun reported Monday that Taylor Swift and her boyfriend, star NFL tight end Travis Kelce, were expected to join Kelce's teammate Patrick Mahomes and his wife, Brittany, at the 2024 Miami Grand Prix. The two Kansas City Chiefs are investors in the Alpine F1 team.

Swift recently wrote a song titled "Florida!!!" as part of her latest album, "The Tortured Poets Department." (Warning: explicit lyrics.) She's also kicking off the second leg of her Eras Tour in October at Hard Rock Stadium, the centerpiece of the Miami F1 track.

Is Miami a sprint race? What does that mean?

Unlike most F1 weekends, the Miami Grand Prix will feature a sprint race on Saturday. F1 explains a sprint race is about 100 km — about a third of a grand prix — lasting about 30 minutes.

Most grand prix weekends have three practice sessions and one qualifying session over Friday and Saturday before the big race Sunday. On a sprint weekend, there's one practice session Friday, followed by a sprint qualifying session and then the sprint race Saturday that awards championship points to the top eight finishers.

The Miami sprint race is scheduled to start at noon Saturday. Later that afternoon will be the qualifying run for Sunday's grand prix.

Will it rain at the Miami F1 race? What's the weather forecast?

Temperatures through the weekend in Miami Gardens are expected to be in the mid- to upper 80s, according to Accuweather. Sunday's forecast calls for a high of 87 degrees and a brief morning shower but nothing that would delay the race. Brief early rain is forecast Friday and Saturday, as well.

How much are Miami F1 tickets? Where can I buy them?

A three-day campus pass for the Miami Grand Prix is $450, while other premium three-day passes are available starting at $600. Other one-day tickets are available on secondary markets. Here's the cheapest grand prix ticket price as of Wednesday afternoon:

F1 Miami bag policy: What can I bring in?

Formula One is encouraging guests to not bring any bags to the Miami Grand Prix. Here's what will be permitted at stadium plaza areas, stadium gates or approaching queues:

  • Clear bags that do not exceed 12 inches x 6 inches x 12 inches

  • Small bags or fanny packs that do not exceed 4.5 inches x 6.5 inches

  • Diaper bags

  • Empty plastic or silicone drinking container up to 32 ounces

  • Empty Camelbak-style hydration pack with no pockets

Bags larger than the sizes listed above will not be allowed. Here's some of what else is prohibited:

  • Alcoholic beverages or illegal substances

  • Coolers, ice chests, glass and thermoses

  • Food or beverages (unless there are specific dietary needs or a factory-sealed plastic water bottle less than 20 ounces)

  • Video cameras, selfie sticks and recording devices

For the full list of banned items, see the F1 Miami Grand Prix FAQ page.

Where can I watch the Miami GP on TV, streaming?

The Miami Grand Prix 2024 will air on ABC. Pre-race coverage can be seen on ESPN and ESPN+. Other streaming options include fuboTV, which offers a free trial to potential subscribers.

Miami F1 schedule

Friday, May 3

  • Free practice 1: 12:30 p.m. on ESPN2

  • Sprint qualifying: 4:30 p.m. on ESPN2

Saturday, May 4

  • Sprint race: noon on ESPN

  • Grand prix qualifying: 4 p.m. on ESPN

Sunday, May 5

  • Miami Grand Prix: 4 p.m. on ABC

We occasionally recommend interesting products and services. If you make a purchase by clicking one of the links, we may earn an affiliate fee. USA TODAY Network newsrooms operate independently, and this doesn’t influence our coverage.

This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: F1 Miami event schedule, ticket prices, race time, how to watch