Miami to vote on potential F1 race deal

Miami’s City Commission will vote on its future plans for a potential Formula 1 race held in the city from 2019.

Reports emerging from the Florida city have confirmed Miami representatives are in negotiation with F1 commercial rights’ holders Liberty about hosting a race as the sport looks to crack the American market after numerous failed attempts.

A city spokesperson for Miami’s City Commission confirmed to Miami New Times a vote will be held next week, May 10, on whether it will pursue negotiations on a deal with F1 to host its own Grand Prix, potentially as early as October 2019.

Last November F1 bosses met with Miami Mayor Francis Suarez to kick-start talks on the city hosting a race in its downtown region as the sport looks to expand its operations in the US market.

F1 managing director for commercial operations Sean Bratches has welcomed the debate and is eager to bring the sport to the US city.

"Earlier today the City of Miami Commission took an important step by adding an item to their upcoming agenda, that if approved, will make way to bring Formula 1 to downtown Miami next season," Bratches said. "We appreciate the community’s interest in hosting a Formula 1 race and look forward to working with local officials and stakeholders to bring this vision to life.

"With over half a billion fans worldwide, Formula 1 is the greatest racing spectacle on the planet, and Miami’s status as one of the world’s most iconic and glamourous cities, combined with its robust tourism infrastructure, makes Miami the perfect destination for Formula 1 and its fans."

US backer of the project Stephan Ross, a real estate developer and owner of NFL team Miami Dolphins who was also linked with an F1 takeover before Liberty Media's move last year, says an F1 race would be a major boost to the whole region's economy.

“Miami is a first-class global city and Formula 1 is a first-class global brand," Ross said. "In cooperation with the City of Miami and Miami-Dade County, I am confident we can deliver yet another global event that will be a destination for people from around the world and drive economic value to South Florida. 

"From football and soccer to tennis and motorsports, Miami deserves only the best in music, food, art, fashion, and sports and entertainment, and that is exactly what we plan on delivering with a Formula 1 race.”

Since the opening of the Circuit of the Americas in Texas in 2012, the Austin track has exclusively hosted the United States Grand Prix which ended a four-year hiatus of F1 in the US after Indianapolis ended its race deal in 2007.

Reports from Miami also highlight a potential backlash on the plans by local residents who reacted against the city hosting Formula E in 2015 due to noise and the damage to green spaces.

It is also thought a Miami event could only be introduced if another race dropped off the F1 race calendar for 2019 with this year’s calendar having expanded to 21 rounds, F1's biggest-ever world championship calendar, with the return of the French and German Grand Prix despite losing the Malaysian Grand Prix last year.

Miami is set to host an F1 Live event this year during the build-up to the United States GP in October following the success of the inaugural F1 Live event held in London the week leading up to the British GP.

In 2012 the Circuit of the Americas began its 10-year deal to host the F1 United States GP which is due to conclude after the 2021 race.