F1 Tracks: Miami International Autodrome - Miami Grand Prix

Formula 1’s attempts to make it big in America has seen them venture to Florida for the first time with the Miami International Autodrome hosting the US’s answer to the Monaco Grand Prix.

Putting aside the fact a large part of the track is a car park for most of the year, race organisers have gone all out to make the Miami Grand Prix a glitzy and glamourous affair. 

From reams of VIP guests, a paddock on an American football field, a beach club and a fake marina filled with yachts, the Miami International Autodrome is the place to see and be seen when F1 comes to town. 

As for the action on the track, the street-style circuit, similar to Australia’s Albert Park, features unforgiving barriers lining sections of a track made up of several long straights, 19 corners and three DRS zones.

With organisers ready to plough money into every aspect of the Miami International Autodrome, the future looks bright for the Sunshine Stats venue.

Miami International Autodrome location

The city of Miami put forward several proposals before settling on the current site with a race around PortMiami and the downtown area initially proposed. 

When those two suggestions were rejected, Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross suggested staging a Grand Prix around the American football team’s home, Hard Rock Stadium in the suburb of Miami Gardens.

The track is located on the private grounds of Hard Rock Stadium, utilising the car park and new and existing roads to create the circuit with the stadium itself the backdrop for the start/finish straight.

When was Miami International Autodrome first built?

Work began on converting the ground around Hard Rock Stadium in April 2021 with 24,000 tons of asphalt and 1,130 tons of concrete used across the site.

Work began on the pit buildings in September of that year with construction completed the following January. 

As a temporary circuit, the majority of the track and facilities are only put in place a few weeks before the race weekend.

Miami International Autodrome track length

A lap of the Miami International Autodrome measures 5.412km, which is around the average for the current F1 tracks. 

Before settling on the layout, up to 75 designs were considered with 36 of those put through a simulator before the final circuit was decided upon. 

They settled on a layout which sees drivers hit top speeds of 340km/h and go through a series of elevation changes during a lap which takes around 90 seconds to complete.

When did Miami International Autodrome first host an F1 race?

Race organisers had hoped to stage the maiden Miami Grand Prix in 2021 but were left off the Formula 1 calendar that year.

The Miami International Autodrome would eventually make its debut in May 2022.

Miami International Autodrome most wins

Max Verstappen had dominated on both of F1’s first two visits to Florida, which included a stunning victory in 2023 as he climbed from ninth before pulling clear of Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez.

McLaren's Lando Norris claimed his maiden Grand Prix victory in the Magic City in 2024.

Does Miami International Autodrome host any other events?

The centrepiece of the track, Hard Rock Stadium, is no stranger to hosting major events having previously staged six NFL championships, Wrestlemania, baseball and numerous music concerts. 

Meanwhile, the south car park was turned into a tennis venue in 2019 and is now the home of the Miami Open. 

In terms of motorsports around the Miami International Autodrome, F1 and the Porsche Carrera Cup are the only two classes currently racing at the circuit.

Miami International Autodrome weather

There was a threat of rain for the 2023 race, but with the wet weather holding off, all of the races have been run in hot and dry conditions. 

Temperatures have ranged from 27C up to 32C across a race weekend in Miami, which is well known for its hot and humid climate.