A ridiculous new contract - What you missed at the Miami GP

The Miami Grand Prix was hectic both on and off the track at times, with plenty of action during the Sprint and main race, and just as much when it came to activations and big events. And it looks like it will remain that way for a long, long time to come…

Cadillac makes some noise

In 12 months’ time, there will be 11 teams on the grid as the Cadillac Formula 1 team joins the line-up in 2026, and yet at this stage there is very little that has been announced from the new constructor.

That’s by design, because Cadillac has been working “at pace” – its favourite phrase – behind the scenes, but also has plenty of time to make certain big decisions. The biggest of all revolves around drivers, where the American outfit will have two of the most coveted available seats, thanks to the size of the project.

And if you were in any doubt as to how big Cadillac is going to be, you only have to look at the way it launched its brand identity on Saturday night in Miami.

Specifically in Miami Beach, Cadillac took over an entire restaurant and lounge venue and installed a massive Cadillac logo as the entrance, blocking off part of the road for red carpet arrivals.

Outside, a small group of fans gathered to try and voice their support for Sergio Perez to get one of the seats, while inside, Mick Schumacher was among those networking with the new arrivals.

There was high-quality food, an open bar, and hundreds in attendance from GM president Mark Reuss and FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem, to countless social media influencers and the host, actor Terry Crews.

Reuss and TWG Motorsports head Dan Towriss both said a few words on stage around 10pm in the middle of what was essentially a glitzy party, and then played a short video that depicted the team’s brand image at this stage of its journey.

And that was it.

There was very little substance, but a lot of style, and it left you in no doubt that Cadillac is coming into F1 to be seen and heard.

The launch also marks a line in the sand to start drip-feeding further announcements, with a number of milestones ahead for a team that was frustrated in its attempts to join the grid for so long.

The movie moves a step closer

Back at the Hard Rock Stadium itself, there was a major takeover from the F1 movie that further ramped up interest ahead of the film’s launch at the end of next month.

As with many big Hollywood productions, there is a high-profile soundtrack to go with it, so the moviemakers installed a walkthrough garage set-up that featured car parts from the fictional APXGP team, as well as listening points that would allow guests to check out the album of songs that are used in the film.

There was even merchandise and appearances from producer Jerry Bruckheimer, actor Kerry Condon – who plays the APXGP technical director – and a number of musicians involved in the soundtrack.

From the first race in Miami where the entire paddock was crammed into a small area behind the garages and in front of the stadium, the campus has expanded so much that there was even space for a massive set of big screens carrying APXGP branding alongside race footage, and it all gained a significant amount of interest from guests and team members alike.

Who knew a fictional team could prove so popular?

Lawson’s new love

There’s a particularly memorable moment in the latest series of the Netflix documentary Drive to Survive, when Liam Lawson is at a driving range with a friend and discussing his prospects of receiving a promotion to race in Formula 1 at some stage in 2024.

Aside from the F1 talk, Lawson keeps complaining about what a stupid game he thinks golf is, as he struggles to hit the ball cleanly and vents his frustration.

By the time Lawson got to Miami this week, it turned out he is now a massive convert, and is spending a lot of his available spare time practising or playing golf. He even made it out onto one of the best courses in Miami to try his hand in the build-up to the race weekend, and claims he made a birdie and multiple pars. This all for a driver who only took up the sport in January…

But it has been a positive distraction for Lawson after a rollercoaster first four months of the year, and a hobby that he is enjoying throwing himself into. Not that he is any less dedicated to his day job, but the New Zealander can at least clear his head with another interest between races.

After another frustrating weekend on track in Miami, he’s going to need to lean on those reset options that he has, and try and come back fighting in Imola.

What will you be doing in 2041?

I’m slightly biased with the amount of work I do for an American audience, but I really do enjoy the Miami Grand Prix – and all the American races – even if the traffic is a regular source of complaint.

The event has made some impressive strides since a slightly tricky first year, and this year’s race showed that the track can provide exciting action, both in the wet and the dry.

So I was a fan of seeing a contract extension agreed so soon, as it displays confidence in both the race’s future but also the sustained growth in North America that is often referenced when we talk about the health of the sport in general. With three races on the calendar, there has been no dip in interest from fans or businesses in South Florida, and the race saw another big crowd.