F1 clear to finalise Miami GP deal after crucial city vote

Formula 1’s desired Miami Grand Prix is closer to reality after a key local vote supporting a race at the stadium of American football team Miami Dolphins.

F1’s long path to hosting a race in Miami, which would add a second grand prix in the United States, has been complicated significantly by opposition from residents in the city of Miami Gardens.

The planned event has had backing from Stephen Ross, the owner of the Dolphins NFL franchise, and secured a long-term deal in principle with F1 – but frequent and major changes have been made to the original proposal to try to satisfy locals.

Eventually the downtown Miami street track was switched to a circuit housed entirely within the Dolphins’ Hard Rock Stadium, which has zoning rights and the permission to host racing on its grounds, but even that became the subject of a civil rights complaint against the Dolphins and F1 last year.

However, a promise to invest $5million into the local community is part of a wide-ranging pledge that helped secure the support of the local city mayor, who previously opposed the race.

That fund is the cornerstone of a plan “to ensure a lasting and meaningful positive impact” on the city. The first $1million must be paid in full within 30 days of the first race, with $444,444.44 due under the same terms for each subsequent race.

The F1 in Schools programme will work with the city’s parks and recreation department “at no cost to the city, for both elementary, middle and high school students as well as behind-the-scenes learning tours for students and interaction with the motorsports teams at the event”.

At least five paid event internships must be offered to high school and/or college students, plus five paid internships for graduate students attending schools located in the city in connection with each event.

These internships must be structured to “prepare and empower internship participants to pursue full-time employment opportunities with the provider”.

Local restaurants are to be given priority as food and drink vendors at the grand prix, while discounted tickets are to be made available for city residents.

The promises around the planning and execution of the event include no “race” starting prior to 2.30pm local time on any weekday on which public schools are in session, which presumably relates to Friday’s schedule in this context, or after sunset in the city on any day.

Noise mitigation barriers “of industry quality” must be used and the promoter is responsible for “industry standard air quality and noise monitoring during the event”.

And as expected, the circuit must avoid the use of Northwest 199th Street, which eliminates any public road usage and creates the track using non-public roads at Hard Rock Stadium.

With mayor Rodney Harris’s support, a new resolution was put to Miami Gardens city commissioners on Wednesday night that would facilitate a deal for the race finally being closed.

The lengthy council meeting, which featured several complaints from aggrieved locals, ended in a unanimous vote in favour of the resolution.

Commissioners have authorised the city manager to execute a memorandum of understanding with the stadium and race promoter South Florida Motorsport, and provide the city’s cooperation and support to prepare for a Miami Grand Prix, including expediting any and all necessary permits and approvals.

It means organisers and F1 may finalise a deal for a grand prix that could finally join the calendar in 2022.