Miami wants to become a night race
After two successful first meetings for the Miami Grand Prix, the organizers want to bring something new to Florida. Discussions have started to make it a night race.
After its first two editions, the Miami Grand Prix is looking for a change. In addition to taking place in the United States, land of American-style showmanship, the organizers want to add a spectacular element to this race.
Like the case of Las Vegas, the third and new race in the United States on the calendar, Miami wants to become a night race. Meteorological reasons support the organizers’ proposal: « At this time of the year, the weather is unpredictable. This year, it has been rather nice, but it was not the case last year when it was unusually hot. », explains Tom Garfinkel, who confirms that discussions have indeed taken place. A hot and humid climate that doesn’t allow for optimal racing conditions.
But the case is likely to be complicated for the organizers of the Grand Prix. Many factors come into play when organizing a night race. The timing of a night race in Miami would be very inconvenient for the European audience. This year already, with a Grand Prix in the afternoon, the race started at 9:30 PM French time. If the race were to become a night race, this schedule could quickly reach 4 or even 5 o’clock in the morning. We are discussing whether or not to do it, and what it would look like, said Tom Garfinkel, responsible for the Hard Rock Stadium, the venue of the Grand Prix.
A night race could help alleviate the traffic congestion around the circuit. The difficulty in accessing the circuit has prompted organizers to reduce the number of tickets available for sale. Despite not always filling the stands, Tom Garfinkel ensures that this Miami Grand Prix was sold out. « We could probably have sold 150,000 tickets per day, based on the demand and the space we have here, but I want everyone to have a great experience. It is challenging to get people in and out, make sure there are no queues, and avoid too much traffic, etc. »
Miami could then become a new night circuit, adding yet another night race. After Bahrain, Singapore, and even Las Vegas, Melbourne has also made a request and started discussions to become a night race.
Other situations exist on the F1 calendar to propose races at sunset. This is notably the case of Abu Dhabi, which starts in the evening and finishes at night, with lights on and fireworks at the finish.
