Twenty-eight laps into the , all of it was going in response to script.
Then, nearly nothing was.
A Method 1 season that had grown predictable hit a flip no person noticed coming: didn’t rule Miami for the third straight yr. Lando Norris — the man who’d by no means gained an F1 race in 109 tries — did.
And despite the fact that Verstappen went on to win his fourth consecutive world championship, he did so by capturing solely two of the ultimate 14 races of the collection. This, for a driver who one yr prior gained 19 of twenty-two occasions and in doing so was turning “Drive to Survive” into “Drive to Thrive.”
Lando Norris and his group have fun successful the 2024 Miami Grand Prix.
Now, the “Autodrome” round Arduous Rock Stadium is starting to gear up for this yr’s occasion on Could 2-4 amid a buzz not like the earlier races. It’s solely partly because of realizing Verstappen should work to regain his vice-like grip on F1. The opposite half: Finding out how a lot Lewis Hamilton’s bounce from Mercedes to Ferrari will shake up the collection.
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Lewis Hamilton’s Ferrari portrait attracts eyeballs
The early reply is a lot, given how a lot consideration Hamilton acquired just by posting his portrait on Instagram. Not simply any portrait, thoughts you. Sir Lewis is elegantly decked out in a double-breasted swimsuit in entrance of Enzo Ferrari’s house and subsequent to a Ferrari F40.
“In the present day we begin a brand new period within the historical past of this iconic group, and I can’t wait to see what story we are going to write collectively,” Hamilton wrote.
In fact, the automobile is Ferrari’s signature coloration — crimson — as are window trimmings on the constructing behind him. On-line sleuths have theorized that the seven home windows within the background signify the seven world titles he already has gained — and the door represents the eighth in his not-so-distant future.
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“I’ve obtained feeling,” mentioned Guenther Steiner, ambassador for the Miami Grand Prix and fixture on Netflix’s “Drive to Survive” collection that F1 credit with creating mainstream followers.
“I believe Ferrari is without doubt one of the 4 groups which might be combating for wins and clearly Lewis might be a part of it,” Steiner mentioned. “You recognize, it’s a kind of issues. On one aspect, Lewis doesn’t should show something to anyone. He gained seven championships. He’s an excellent driver. However clearly he needed a brand new problem in his life.”
The stakes are clear.
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“If Lewis wins in a Ferrari, I believe it’s one thing incredible for Lewis, as a result of that will be possibly his eighth championship, which no person has accomplished. It could be incredible for Ferrari, as a result of I don’t even keep in mind how lengthy since they’ve gained a championship.”
Hamilton and Michael Schumacher really share the file with seven world titles. Ferrari, nonetheless, hasn’t gained the constructor’s title since 2008. The deeper the collection goes in 2025 with these titles doubtful, the higher it’s for everybody not named Max Verstappen or Purple Bull Racing. Simply have a look at how drained America turned of the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs’ dynasty.
Tyler Epp, president of the Miami Grand Prix.
“U.S. followers love competitors,” mentioned Tyler Epp, president of the Miami Grand Prix. “They love drama. They love the joy in direction of the top of the race or the season or no matter it might be. So look, we’re all for what makes the product higher and I believe the product is at an all-time excessive proper now.”
Max Verstappen was a lock in Miami final yr … we thought
It was simple to reach ultimately yr’s Grand Prix believing the winner was a foregone conclusion. Verstappen had gained three of the primary 4 races on the circuit. However a collision on lap 28 in Miami introduced out the warning flag and successfully afforded Norris a free pit cease over Verstappen, which was all he wanted to win.
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“Lando gained and the entire season type of simply flipped a bit bit,” Epp mentioned.
Epp and Tom Garfinkel, managing associate of the Miami Grand Prix, have lengthy sought to provide the weekend a “Miami” really feel, from the meals to the music to planting a seashore and yachts in the course of an F1 course. For years, F1 had largely been a European providing for hardcore race followers. Then, Liberty Media purchased the collection, including races in the USA and Americanizing it to an extent.
Steiner gained’t go as far as to say European races are leaping on the leisure bandwagon, “however want to Miami GP and see, ‘Wow, that is really fairly cool.’ ” However he’s fast so as to add, “A very powerful factor continues to be the F1 race.”
Final yr’s Miami cease noticed the addition of a dash race, which is again. There additionally was an Ed Sheeran live performance. A number of live shows might be unfold over the weekend this yr, together with Pitbull following the Grand Prix on Sunday night time.
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One-day tickets can be found for the primary time this yr for these affected by sticker shock at the price of three days of attendance (we’re speaking 4 figures). Now, a ticket assuring you a seat with a view of the monitor for the principle occasion begins at $490. A 3-day campus cross — which doesn’t embrace a seat overlooking the monitor — is $430.
We’d level out the opposite finish of the spectrum — rooftop suites atop the paddock, which go for a mere $500,000 — however these are offered out.
So put your checkbook away.
Miami Grand Prix
When: Could 2-4
The place: Round Arduous Rock Stadium
Schedule: Could 2 – F1 follow, Porsche Carrera follow, F1 Dash qualifying. Could 3 – F1 Academy qualifying and racing, F1 Dash race, F1 qualifying, Porsche Carrera Cup qualifying and racing. Could 4 – Porsche Carrera Cup racing, F1 Academy racing, F1 Miami Grand Prix
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