Why the Miami Grand Prix is the most distinctive race in Formula 1

• The Miami Grand Prix, a unique spectacle in Formula 1, is heading into its third year.
• The event logistics, including the track setup around Hard Rock Stadium, take nearly a year to plan.
• Features like a fake marina with yachts on display add to the race's distinctiveness.
• This article is part of "Behind the Wheel," a series about the highly competitive and high-tech world of Formula 1.

Heading into its third year, Formula 1's Miami Grand Prix has made a name for itself as a unique spectacle in the sport.

The 3.7-mile racetrack is set up around Hard Rock Stadium — the home of the Miami Dolphins — and the event, which starts this Friday, takes nearly all year to plan.

"We first start looking at the logistics of moving equipment in and out of the stadium about 10 months in advance," said Todd Boyan, a senior vice president of stadium operations with the Miami Dolphins who oversees much of the logistics.

Construction crews also must contend with the Miami Open tennis tournament, which is held on a temporary tennis court within Hard Rock Stadium and concluded this year only five weeks before race day.

"In terms of barriers and grandstands for the track, we have roughly 40% complete before the Miami Open, 20% during, and the remaining 40% complete after the end of the tournament," Boyan said.

That final 40% is no small feat and must be finished within 14 days of the tournament's conclusion.

"We have over 1,000 people on-site each day, and it's a seven-day, 24-hour exercise," Boyan said.

But the logistics' massive scope is just one aspect that sets the Miami Grand Prix apart. Here are more features that make the race a spectacle in Formula 1.

A football-stadium paddock

In 2022, the race's inaugural year, Hard Rock Stadium's field wasn't used. Tyler Epp, the Miami Grand Prix's president, said he regretted this decision.

Epp recalled being nervous about the organizers' ability to get the tennis court out and construct the race's buildings in time. But in the race's second year, they realized they could manage it. This year they plan to erect team villages and the paddock area on the field.

The setup means any fan can walk inside the 300-level area of the stadium to view the team villages and paddock and snap photos or spot their favorite drivers.

"The paddock is a special area that typically requires the right type of access," Epp said. "So this gives any fan the unique chance to be a part of the paddock and see what goes on there, how these teams operate. It benefits the average fan up to the luxury buyer."

A meme-worthy 'marina'

Initially, designers hoped to build a marina with real water near the track. It would house luxury yachts and act as a nod to F1's famous Monaco Grand Prix. Logistics proved tricky, though, and organizers decided to install a fake marina made out of a vinyl material.

At first that decision drew snickers from fans and a host of memes. But the fake marina has since become one of the race's humorous calling cards. The social-media buzz around it during its first year increased awareness about the race.

"We joke about this a lot internally," Epp said. "We never took ourselves too seriously with the marina. We're not sitting on the Pacific Ocean or the Red Sea like the Formula 1 race in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. But Miami is so much about boats, beauty, culture — and credit to the team, who wanted to create an opportunity for people to experience that in a unique way."

The fake marina features yachts on display for premium-level guests to tour and has become a popular spot for fan photos. "It certainly has become a part of our brand," Epp said.

A famous ambassador

One of Formula 1's most colorful characters, Guenther Steiner, will serve as a special ambassador at this year's race.

Steiner was the team principal for the Haas F1 team and a breakout star of the Netflix docuseries "Drive to Survive."

He said his popularity, particularly among fans in the US, had taken him by surprise. "How did this happen?" Steiner said with a laugh. "I still cannot explain. Maybe I don't have to understand it anyway!"

After Haas declined to renew Steiner's contract for the 2024 season, organizers at the Miami Grand Prix reached out to him about serving as the race's ambassador, which would involve making appearances and promoting the event before and during race weekend.

"When Miami came in two years ago, they raised the bar as far as how to organize a Grand Prix," Steiner said. "They're a serious place and want to put on the best race of all the 24 throughout the season."

Steiner created an Instagram account to mark the occasion, and he plans on having a packed schedule throughout the race.

"I hope I get enough time to take it all in," Steiner said.

On-track action

Epp said organizers were determined to feature more on-track action during this year's race weekend.

"We've got a packed schedule with three days full of racing," he added.

In addition to the main race on Sunday, Formula 1 will host a sprint race on Saturday. It'll be the first time the sprint format will take place in Miami.

F1 Academy, a series with only female drivers, will run events and races throughout the weekend as well. Miami will be the only US site to feature F1 Academy this season.

"When summer hit last year, we were already in conversation with F1 Academy to make sure we were one of the promoters," Epp said.

Local flavor

The Miami Grand Prix aims to capture the city's flair. "We really want it to feel like a Disneyland for race enthusiasts," Epp said.

Beyond the grandstands, people can watch races from the Hard Rock Beach Club, essentially a South Beach club right off the track that can accommodate 1,600 people. It'll consist of 43 cabanas, DJs, two resort-style pools, and multiple bars.

In a nod to Miami's ties to contemporary art through Art Basel, local artists will have their work displayed around the racetrack this year. An installation will even be painted live during the weekend for Paddock Club guests.

A Bonhams car auction will also take place on Saturday for the first time at a US Formula 1 race. Many of the exotic cars up for auction will also be on display throughout the grounds, allowing people to see them and snap photos.

The Bonhams auction is "an ode to the car culture over here, which we see every day driving around the city," Epp said. "That's something we were chasing from the very beginning."