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Formula One Pushes Back Planned Miami Event
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Formula One officials confirmed Monday that the planned Miami Grand Prix, which was hoped to debut on the 2019 calendar, will now be pushed back until at least 2020.
Monday’s announcement came three days before a scheduled meeting of the Miami City Commission, which was set for Thursday and where contract details and funding for the event were expected to be discussed.
“In the last few months we have worked diligently alongside our promoter Stephen Ross of RSE Ventures, the City of Miami and Miami Dade County to realize our ambition to bring a Formula 1 Grand Prix to Miami. We have made significant progress; however, these are complicated negotiations,” F1 Managing Director of Commercial Operations Sean Bratches said. “Whilst our preference would have been to race in Miami in 2019, there was always a point by which delivering the best possible wheel-to-wheel racing experience for our fans, drivers and teams wouldn’t be possible in the time available. We have now reached that point as far as racing in Miami in 2019 is concerned.
“We are taking a long-term view and as a result, we have decided, in consultation with the Miami authorities, to postpone sign-off until later in the summer, with the aim of running the first Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix in the 2020 season.”
Bratches pointed out that Formula One’s goal, as with each new racing event that is placed on the championship’s calendar, is the highest quality of competition for fans in attendance.
“We have always said that we wouldn’t compromise on delivering the best possible race, for the people of Miami, our fans and the 1.8 billion people who watch F1 globally every year, and if that meant waiting until 2020, then that was far more preferable than signing off on a sub-optimal race track, just to do a deal,” Bratches said. “At every stage of this process we’ve enjoyed positive collaboration and cooperation with the City of Miami, Miami-Dade County, Port of Miami, Bayfront Parks Management, residents and businesses. As a result of these discussions, we have listened and adapted our plans, including elements of the track layout.
“We are committed to expansion in the US and to Miami in particular and we will be bringing our fantastic sport to this iconic city in October with the Formula 1 fan festival, where we look forward to engaging and exciting fans.”
Monday’s announcement came three days before a scheduled meeting of the Miami City Commission, which was set for Thursday and where contract details and funding for the event were expected to be discussed.
“In the last few months we have worked diligently alongside our promoter Stephen Ross of RSE Ventures, the City of Miami and Miami Dade County to realize our ambition to bring a Formula 1 Grand Prix to Miami. We have made significant progress; however, these are complicated negotiations,” F1 Managing Director of Commercial Operations Sean Bratches said. “Whilst our preference would have been to race in Miami in 2019, there was always a point by which delivering the best possible wheel-to-wheel racing experience for our fans, drivers and teams wouldn’t be possible in the time available. We have now reached that point as far as racing in Miami in 2019 is concerned.
“We are taking a long-term view and as a result, we have decided, in consultation with the Miami authorities, to postpone sign-off until later in the summer, with the aim of running the first Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix in the 2020 season.”
Bratches pointed out that Formula One’s goal, as with each new racing event that is placed on the championship’s calendar, is the highest quality of competition for fans in attendance.
“We have always said that we wouldn’t compromise on delivering the best possible race, for the people of Miami, our fans and the 1.8 billion people who watch F1 globally every year, and if that meant waiting until 2020, then that was far more preferable than signing off on a sub-optimal race track, just to do a deal,” Bratches said. “At every stage of this process we’ve enjoyed positive collaboration and cooperation with the City of Miami, Miami-Dade County, Port of Miami, Bayfront Parks Management, residents and businesses. As a result of these discussions, we have listened and adapted our plans, including elements of the track layout.
“We are committed to expansion in the US and to Miami in particular and we will be bringing our fantastic sport to this iconic city in October with the Formula 1 fan festival, where we look forward to engaging and exciting fans.”
