Formula 1: the “fake water”, the humor of the Miami GP and the tip of the iceberg of a millionaire business

Formula 1 is preparing to live out an unprecedented weekend in its recent history when this weekend, motorsports ’top circus will bring its magic to Miami GP, on a circuit designed for the occasion and named after the main sponsor, Crypto.com. However, in the hours before the roar of the machines, one of the main topics of debate among fans was a layout section, which was a source of ridicule and attention: a lagoon with “fake water” painted between 8 and 9., where a dozen yachts are located.

It’s the return of F1 to Miami since 1959, an area historically demolished by more traditional ones like Watkins Glen, in New York, preserved in the 60s and 70s, or Indianapolis and Austin, fixed over the last two decades. . In Miami and Austin (10/23), the United States will have two dates in 2022, which will be three starting in 2023 when Las Vegas is added. The reason: the billions of dollars Uncle Sam injected into a growing industry.

It was in April 2017, when the then CEO of Formula 1, Chase Carey, announced this expanding movement toward North America, citing Miami, New York, Las Vegas and adding Los Angeles as a candidate. At that moment, Miami saw the green traffic light, fully accelerated and reached the finish line first.

A business they can’t afford to lose

“I’m confident we can host another global event to welcome people from all over the world and make an economic impact in South Florida. Miami deserves only the best in music, food, art, fashion, sports and entertainment. … and that’s all we can give you with Formula 1“.

That phrase was not uttered by a politician in office but by someone more powerful in that hot region of American geography. Nothing less than si stephen ross, owner of the Miami Dolphins, is close to 82 and has a fortune worth 8.2 billion dollars. It was only a few hours before his wish was fulfilled, whose planning had had some controversy but was only really changed by the coronavirus pandemic.

The original idea was that F1 in Miami would run along the coast of South Beach, in the arteries bordering the city’s most famous and picturesque beach, all the way to Downtown, with its endless skyscrapers and wide highways. . They were unable to conduct an analysis of the risks indicated by running at more than 300 kilometers per hour in the urban area, which began to rain complaints from citizens, citing the environmental impact that this option would generate.

To avoid a conflict that could be eternal, Ross and the company did the best they knew: they opened the wallet and began shaping Crypto.com, a few kilometers from the coast, and along with one of its sections that crossing Hard Rock Stadium, home. of the Dolphins. A definition confirmed a month ago, when the issue closed. Everything is resolved, or almost everything.

“We need peace of mind, not pieces of your money (Need tranquility, not pieces of your money),” protested an opponent of the project, with a play on words between “peace” and “pieces.” Cuban nationalized American Carlos Giménez, the city’s mayor between 2011 and 2020, was the same who initially announced he would stay away from discussions around F1 because his son works as a lobbyist in the negotiations. However, he broke his promise and vetoed the legal protection that complicated the holding of the event.

“It’s like having a Superbowl in the city every year,” Giménez celebrates when defending his decision. A comment that, later, was slandered when it was discovered that Ross had given him two $ 4,000 tickets for the 2020 Superbowl LIV, which took place at Hard Rock Stadium, one won by the Kansas City Chiefs and given by Jennifer López and Shakira. an unforgettable halftime show.

The “fake water”

When the Crypto.com designers unveiled the first sketch of the scenery they set, a layout section showed off the beach, with lounge chairs, umbrellas, yachts and a reflecting pool without too much attention. This seems more like a delusion by some graphic designers than something that can be “seen” in reality. Not in America.

The surprise came last week, when the first boats appeared and began to park in a cute dock located between curves 8 and 9. But these days it’s quite madness when journalists and viewers who toured the area that the announced lagoon was actually it. be a platform painted in various shades of light blue that at first glance, fools everyone, especially the millions of viewers who follow the TV actions.

With tickets starting at $ 1,500 for the entire weekend and VIP sectors with numbers in excess of $ 5,000, Miami GP is trying to emulate Monte Carlo in terms of wasting money, and will have full capacity: more than 80 thousand viewers. Dinner at the Carbone restaurant, which will be canceled when F1 leaves, is estimated at $ 3,500 per place setting. The package to stay in the most exclusive sector of St. The Regis Bal Harbor resort, which is only suitable for tycoons, costs 120 thousand dollars according to local media. And it’s logical, in a lot of business, yacht marinas can’t leave.

Major shipping companies in Miami, based in various ports around the world, have teamed up to set up this type of open-air showroom in the heart of Formula 1, which has been a success in marketing. In addition to advertising brands and models of boats, they have scheduled parties and famous guests, who will appear in front of the delivery and social networks.

David Beckham, Lebron James, Michael Jordan, Tom Brady and many more figures, not only from sports but from the world of music and cinema, will be announced for the next few days, in addition to endless live performances like Maluma’s, who sings. after the podium. Because in the midst of all this show it is worth remembering that there is a race for the world title.

It is estimated that the passage of F1 in Florida will have an economic impact of more than $ 400 million for Miami Dade County. And that will be repeated in the next few years since the city’s contract with Liberty Media, the company that manages F1, was established until 2032.

A pool is no longer painted light blue but full of greenbacks.