My First Grand Prix | Miami gp 2023
Heart pounding, tears, sweat, screaming- all the feels!! Guys. When I tell you I wasn’t expecting to attend a Grand Prix anytime soon in my life- I meant it. The feeling that encapsualtes the entire weekend is just pure joy and excitement and it is long overdue that I share my experience with you! I’m going to lay out how the weekend works, where to stay, what you need to bring, and what vantage points I had.
Getting there & getting around
Getting there
There are 2 major airports to fly into- Miami International Airport and Ft. Lauderdale. I flew into Ft. Lauderdale because it was cheaper than Miami and prices + distance weren’t that different
Getting around
Your BFF throughout the weekend is a rideshare or a chauffeur. We relied heavily on Uber to get us from South Beach to the Hard Rock Hotel in Ft Lauderdale. Prices were pretty reasonable when you split it amongst riders (average Uber was about $50-60 for a 1-hour ride). If you’re considering getting shuttle passes to get to Hard Rock Stadium where the race is hosted, DO IT. It was so worth it to be able to get to and from an Uber pickup/dropoff point easily. It’s not possible to call an Uber from the stadium directly because they close off the exits to non-government or official vehicles.
It is important to note that it does take about another 45 mins to get to the stadium, so make sure you give yourself about 2 hours of travel time if you’re coming from South Beach!
Accommodations
If you’d like to save yourself travel time, check out the Hard Rock Hotel. It’s right across the street from the shuttle pickup/drop-off point- the only downside is that you’re not actually in Miami, but in Ft Lauderdale.
Fountainbleu is the most popular accommodation for those who want to stay and party in Miami!
If you’re looking for a more budget-friendly option, book an Airbnb in advance. There are great options there.
Race Weekend
This was my first ever Grand Prix, so I had no idea what to expect and I definitely wanted to keep it as cost-friendly as possible. My roommate and I decided to get General Admission tickets which allowed us to explore the entire track at our leisure. Though I think that will be the last time I do GA in Miami though because it was so hot and having to constantly walk around to find a vantage point was not ideal. Compared to COTA in Austin where there are a lot of grassy patches and good views of the track- the views can be quite limited in Miami.
I also don’t know how this happened but we got super lucky and were invited to sit up in the main grandstands overlooking the start/finish line and the paddock… *queue me losing my mind*.
If you ever get the chance to sit in the main grandstands- even if it’s just for practice or qualifying, do it! This was hands-down such an insane experience and the energy was so electric. When I tell you I actually was crying sobbing with happiness that this was how I got to experience my first grand prix… I’m not kidding.
You’ll see the iconic “lights out and away we go!”, famous celebrities walking the track such as Vin Diesel, and of course close-up views of the cars and drivers.
Now let’s make sure you’re prepared
It is going to be hot, humid, sticky, and you’re going to be doing quite a bit of walking if you’re in general admission. Here’s some tips from my experience:
Bring sunscreen and sunglasses!
If you have a sweat towel, you won’t regret it.
Wear comfy shoes and breathable clothes!
Bring a refillable water bottle! They have a ton of water stations around which is fantastic.
Don’t forget your phone charger!
On race day, the line for the shuttle is going to be LONG. If you can get out slightly before the race wraps up, it’ll be worth it.
You might think you want to go out but unless you’re “built like that”- you may as well pull an all-nighter because clubs don’t ramp up until 1 am. After a long day in the sun and walking around… I was exhausted!
Miami is a star-studded event packed with celebrities and good vibes to start off the summer. It was such a memorable way to start off my F1 Grand Prix tour, and I am forever grateful that I had the opportunity to experience this! I hope this was helpful for you, and that you have an amazing time at the 2024 Miami Grand Prix!