F1 confirms plans for Miami fan festival

Formula 1 has confirmed plans for the Miami fan festival, with the event set to take place alongside the United States Grand Prix next month.

It will mark the latest and final city-based event of 2018, following the success of the inaugural F1 festival held in London in July 2017, which sparked further fan events to be held in Shanghai, Marseille and Milan this year.

Red Bull and Renault will be present for the event on October 20-21, while two-time F1 world champion Emerson Fittipaldi will be re-united with his championship-winning McLaren M23 car as he takes to the streets of downtown Miami.

Qualifying and the US GP race from Austin will be live streamed at the hub of the festival located at Bayfront Park, with Silk City, Diplo and Mark Ronson headlining a concert on Saturday evening.

Liberty Media has made its intentions to crack the American market clear, while proposals for a race to take place around the streets of Miami in 2019 were put on hold earlier this year. F1’s owners hope the event will help to boost the sport’s presence in the United States.

“America is increasingly becoming a hub of passion around Formula 1 and I am particularly excited about the opportunity to host an F1 Festival in Miami,” said F1 commercial chief Sean Bratches.

“The success of the US Grand Prix in Austin demonstrates the appetite for Formula 1 in this country and we are determined to bring the sport to even more American fans in the coming seasons.

“Following the immense success of our events in London, Shanghai, Marseille and Milan, I am certain that Miami will follow suit.

“Miami is a diverse and vibrant city that shares many of the brand attributes of Formula 1, making it the perfect host for Formula 1’s final festival of 2018.”

Talks are ongoing about a future grand prix in the Florida city, with the Miami City Commission set to hold its latest meeting on Thursday.