Get your shades out! Because the sun and all the stars will be out on South Beach this weekend. Or more precisely, at the parking lot of Hard Rock Stadium for Formula 1's third Miami Grand Prix.
The event was the second of three races in the United States added to the current Formula 1 calendar and has reportedly helped drive the value of race owner Stephen Ross' Miami Dolphins portfolio to a whopping $10 billion. The vibrant, splashy culture of Miami matches the glamor and speed of the motorsport series. Just scroll through Instagram and it will be evident by the teal and pink everywhere that it's race week in the 305. Some in F1 have complained that the Miami race is taking away from the purity of the sport while others think it has helped welcome new fans and create a fun experience for the drivers.
While Max Verstappen has dominated the Miami International Autodrome by winning both races so far, Ferrari is hoping a tribute to their heritage boosts them onto the podium, and Logan Sargeant is back for another swing at his home race.
Whether someone is a fan of the racing, the food or the fashion, there is something for everyone at the Miami Grand Prix. The event starts with practice on Friday, a sprint race on Saturday and concludes with the grand prix on Sunday.
Logan Sargeant returns for second try at his home race
Logan Sargeant was a rookie at last year's Miami Grand Prix. The Williams driver is a native of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., which is just north of Miami, and struggled in his first home race. He qualified last and finished in the same spot. The race exemplified his rough 2023 season. He only scored one point at the United States Grand Prix in Austin because Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton were disqualified.
This year, Sargeant is one of seven drivers who have yet to score a point through five races. He did not compete in the Australian Grand Prix after his teammate, Alex Albon, crashed in practice. The team couldn't fix the car, so they decided Sargeant would sit and Albon would race in his car.
Despite the adversity, Sargeant seemed positive heading back to South Beach.
“I feel like good things always happen at home,” he told The Athletic. “If we just maximize what we have, we won’t be far away from doing something good.”
Ferrari sprinkles in blue for the Miami Grand Prix
A week ago, Ferrari teased a special livery for the Miami Grand Prix. The team slowly unveiled information that the tribute would include blue, which is actually a part of Ferrari's rich tradition. Five-time world champion Juan Manuel Fangio had a touch of blue on his Ferrari due to his Argentinian heritage. When Ferrari was part of the North American Racing Team, the cars were blue. Enzo Ferrari appreciated the color because of its calming nature.
Around the same time, Ferrari announced that HP will be its title sponsor starting with the Miami race. The technology company's logo features the two letters in a blue circle. So the blue livery also helps raise the profile of the sponsorship news.
On Wednesday, Ferrari unveiled the actual livery. The SF-24 is still mostly red with accents in two shades of blue — Azzurro La Plata and Azzurro Dino. The front and rear wing are a dark blue and there is a stripe down the side of the car in a lighter blue, which is also seen on the halo. The wheel covers are blue as well. And the blue HP logo can clearly be seen behind the cockpit, of course.
Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc will wear blue racing overalls and blue helmets.
Not exactly the blue extravaganza fans were expecting...
Visa Cash App RB wows with vibrant Miami livery
The letdown of the Ferrari livery is a reminder that real Gs move in silence like lasagna.
Without much buildup, Visa Cash App RB released their livery for the Miami GP and fans were loving it. The VCARB 01 has a vibrant gradient that goes from yellow to pink to purple and wraps all the way around the car. It truly embodies the liveliness of the city.
The livery still has a corporate tie-in as the color scheme is meant to mimic the Chameleon Metal Cash App Visa Card. But the nod was tastefully mentioned on social media without screaming "SPONSORSHIP."
Well done, RB!
Lights go out at the Miami Grand Prix at 2 p.m. ET. It will air on ABC.
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