Nestled in the Miami suburb of Miami Gardens, Florida, the Miami International Autodrome boasts a custom-built track that runs around the iconic Hard Rock Stadium, the home field for the Miami Dolphins of the NFL.
Designed by the Formula One track designer, Apex Circuit Design, this track features 19 corners and was constructed specifically for the Miami Grand Prix, which was added to the Formula One calendar for the highly anticipated rule-changing 2022 World Championship.
Miami International Autodrome Circuit
| First Grand Prix | 2022 Miami Grand Prix |
| Number of Laps | 57 |
| Circuit Length | 5.412km |
| Race Distance | 308.326 km |
| Lap Record | 1:29.708 Max Verstappen (2023) |
Circuit
When was the Miami International Autodrome circuit built?
The Miami International Autodrome was not an overnight success, as it was proposed in October 2019 and only made it onto the calendar in 2022.
During the initial design phase, as many as 75 circuit designs were considered, and 36 were simulated before the final version was agreed.
Stephen Ross, the stadium’s owner, had been keen on bringing Formula One to the venue for several years before the release of the design. Although an agreement in principle was made for the Grand Prix to be hosted in 2021, there were delays in implementing this plan. The Miami Gardens commissioners initially opposed the track’s creation but changed their minds in April that year, delaying the first race until 2022.
Finally, in September 2021, the Miami International Autodrome was officially named, marking the start of the build and the build-up to the first race.
When was the first Miami Grand Prix?
The first Miami Grand Prix at the Miami International Autodrome took place on the 8th May, 2022.
Miami’s rich racing history can be traced back to the early 1980s when Ralph Sanchez, a local promoter and racing driver, presented the idea of a hybrid street/permanent circuit in Bayfront Park to F1 rights holder Bernie Ecclestone. Unfortunately, the idea did not come to fruition for reasons beyond his control.
In 2018, a proposal was submitted to the city of Miami for the Miami Grand Prix as a Formula One World Championship event, slated for its inaugural race in 2019 in PortMiami. However, complications arose due to the construction and development plans at the port, leading to a new proposal for the Hard Rock Stadium in 2021. Although the proposed track moved from downtown Miami to the area near the stadium and its parking lots, the 2021 race was eventually dropped from the calendar, making way for the inaugural Saudi Arabian Grand Prix on a new street circuit in Jeddah.
Announced in April 2021, the Miami Grand Prix was slated for the 2022 calendar as a ten-year contract event at the Miami International Autodrome. Despite its ups and downs over the years, Miami has established itself as a prime location for motorsports enthusiasts, drawing in spectators worldwide and leaving a lasting impact on the sport’s history.
Miami International Autodrome Circuit lap record
The official lap record for the current F1 Grand Prix circuit layout is 1:29.708, set by Max Verstappen during the 2022 Miami Grand Prix driving for Red Bull Racing.
