Verstappen – Perez – Verstappen – Perez, Red Bull racing’s best drivers have dominated Formula One Racing this year leading up to this weekend’s Miami Grand Prix. Red Bull Racing is Red hot and really has its “wings” coming into the race this weekend at Hard Rock Stadium. I don’t know if the drama with his longtime performance coach, Angela Cullen, has derailed Lewis Hamilton and his Mercedes Benz F1 racing team, but he does seem a bit off the pudding. I read all the social media “it’s not you, it’s me” breakup conversation, but I feel there is way more to that story so I kind of don’t see him rattling the cages of the drivers and teams above him in the F1 standings, at least not this weekend. Sergio Perez is driving very aggressively lately as a man with a mission to win it all, and its been all Max and Checo this year in Formula One.
Wanna Make a Bet?
The Miami Grand Prix is the next stop on the Formula One World Championship circuit, with Max Verstappen favored to win, having already claimed victory in the Bahrain and Australian Grand Prix this season. At DraftKings Sportsbook, Verstappen’s odds to win are set at -250, while Sergio Perez, who won the Saudi Arabian and Azerbaijan Grand Prix, follows closely behind at +330 on the odds boards. The race is scheduled to take place on Sunday, May 7 at the Miami International Autodrome, where Verstappen emerged victorious in 2022. Verstappen’s final time last year was 1:34:24.258, with Charles Leclerc finishing as the runner-up. Leclerc and Fernando Alonso share odds of +1400, with Alonso having placed in the top four in every Grand Prix this season. Overall, I think its time for the Red Bull team to get its wings clipped a bit and expect a great upset victory for Leclerc and the team at F1 Ferrari.
Tickets
There still seems to be a good selection of tickets for the event if you are interested in attending, and I feel the 3 day event tix offer the best value. There is something for every wallet with single day tickets at about $300ish, but you will easily get into the thousands of dollars range for multiday tix and better locations. Tickets can be purchased through the official race website. Grandstand packages for all three days of the event range from $850 to $1,900. The three-day Campus Pass general admission ticket starts at $590. There are also options to purchase Luxury, Suites, and Clubs on site. All ticketing information can be found at here .
Best View of the Race Action
In my humble opinion the T1 Grandstand North and East are the ultimate spots to witness the first corner chaos. But the excitement doesn’t stop there, as the tight corner following the long straight provides ample opportunity for thrilling overtakes, making it a hotspot for on-track moves during the 2022 race, including Verstappen’s pass on Leclerc for the lead and Mick Schumacher’s misjudged move on Vettel. Fans in these grandstands can also catch a glimpse of the pitlane exit and witness the nail-biting conclusions to race strategy battles. It’s no surprise that these grandstands are among the most popular in Miami. Although each has its own pros and cons, the views from both are significantly different, yet each a good choice.
Events
For live music enthusiasts, the weekend offers so many concerts to choose from. At E11EVEN Miami, you can catch shows by Tiesto, Rick Ross, and DeadMau5. Meanwhile, BleauLive Presents Miami Race Nights is a weekend-long concert series at the legendary Fontainebleau Miami Beach hotel, featuring Ludacris, Kaskade, and Martin Garrix on stage, while its on-site mega club LIV will host Becky G, Zedd, and Diddy. The Hard Rock Beach Club (tix 2k per person) will also have a star-studded lineup, with performances by Jonas Brothers, Wisin y Yandel, Cedric Gervals, Tiesto, and many more as part of the official 2023 Hard Rock Beach concert series.
Specialty Dining
If you’re in the mood to indulge this weekend, there are plenty of luxurious dining experiences to choose from. The Once Upon a Kitchen dinner event on May 5th, featuring world-renowned chef Massimo Bottura, as well as chefs Juan Manuel Barrientos and Bernardo Paladini, is an ultra-exclusive affair priced at $6,000 per person. Guests will be treated to a six-course meal paired with cocktails by Dr. Alex Ott, as well as a cocktail hour, dinner, and an afterparty with DJ Benny Benassi, all taking place at The Deck at Island Gardens. Another extravagant option is the Carbone Beach pop-up, which runs from May 4th to May 7th, and costs $3,000 per person. Mario Carbone will be serving up a lavish Italian meal on the sands of Miami Beach, with surprise nightly performances to add to the excitement.
Local restaurants are also getting in on the action, with Cote Miami offering the Grand Prix Feast from May 3rd to May 7th, featuring steak and Norwegian wild King crab. Sexy Fish Miami is debuting two Omakase tasting menus during Race Week, accompanied by DJ performances in their “One Hell of a Ride” series, while Nobu is hosting a poolside Beach House party complete with Nobu food stations, live entertainment, a premium open bar, and a racecar simulator by custom motorsport art craftsmen. Finally, on May 6th, Fi’lia at SLS Brickell is hosting a Race Weekend Brunch, featuring live entertainment, special dishes, and surprise giveaways.
Watch Party Locations
Mark your calendars and push into high-gear this season because SWARM, 2250 NW 2nd Ave, Miami, FL 33127, is presenting Racing Fan Fest, the largest off-track fan experience in the city, right in Wynwood Marketplace. In partnership with Red Bull, the immersive experience will feature tons of action, from interactive installations to an e-sports tournament, racing simulators, an RB19 display, full bar and food offerings, live DJ and more. It’s entirely free to attend and if you can’t make it to the track, the race will be shown live, making for an epic watch party.
Or head to Batch Gastropub, 30 SW 12th St, Miami, FL 33130, for the world’s fastest race! With 15 TVs and 3 projectors planted all over this bustling bar, there’s no way you’ll miss the races wherever they turn. Make a pit stop at the bar for specials including $5 Bud Light Draft, 5 for $25 16oz mix-n-match buckets and $5 Barn Burner shots to pair with all of your scratch-cooked favorites and great vibe
Ditch the heat of the race track and enjoy a day by the pool as you sip and eat your way through the race. Hyde Beach, 1701 Collins Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139, will be home to the ultimate pool watch party while also getting your fill of delicious cookout food! There will be three 20-foot-wide LED screens displaying the Grand Prix races while guests dance, dine and swim. The event will feature traditional cookout food and cocktails with a special Winners Circle Burger made with 100% wagyu beef on a Charcoal bun haloed with a golden leaf ring for $100.
Brickell’s centrally located urban oasis, W Miami, 485 Brickell Ave, Miami, FL 33131, is hosting a Formula 1 Watch Party at its signature rooftop restaurant, ADDiKT Modern Kitchen. Guests can watch the race and lounge on the terrace while taking in the incredible views of Biscayne Bay and the city skyline. Snack and sip on special race day menu items like the empanadas, nachos, wings, as well as sports themed cocktails.
With all these great venues so close, I’m almost ready to sell the tix and hangout in my neighborhood for the weekend – Nah Just Kidding! Who would pass this up and my Italian bloodlines force me to root in person for the family at Team Ferrari. Have a Great Race Weekend and remember to Be Social, Fly Private !