The fresh asphalt strip at the Football Temple Miami Dolphins Even record champion Lewis Hamilton gives something like childish anticipation.
“It’s nerve-wracking, it’s a huge event for us,” the Mercedes superstar enthuses before the premiere of Formula 1 in Florida’s dazzling metropolis. Oversized American hype surrounds the next race weekend. For decades, many ranks remained empty at races in the USA. For the first of two Grand Prix in the United States this season, the sometimes outrageously expensive tickets for the race on Sunday (May 8th, 2022) were said to have sold out within just 40 minutes.
Hamilton, the superstar – also in the USA
“I never understood why people here weren’t interested in Formula 1. It’s just great to see that we cracked that and there is a growing love in the States,” says Hamilton. The 37-year-old superstar has long been the only Formula 1 driver known to a larger US audience. At the start of the race week he was invited to the popular breakfast show “Good Morning America” for a guest appearance at the New Yorker Times Square.
But in the meantime, a real hype has been sparked in the USA. This also has something to do with the successful PR campaign of the American Formula 1 owners. Above all, however, it is the Netflix series “Drive to survive” that allows US fans to think outside the box of basketball, football, ice hockey and baseball.
VIP guests and stars on site
“Even people who have been to other races should think: This is different, this is fun, this is exciting”, says chief organizer Tom Garfinkel about the upcoming Grand Prix. The route is around five and a half kilometers long. A small marina with yachts and an artificial beach with pools are an expression of American gigantism – and are intended to “conceal” that the route – rather less glamorous – was reached in a parking lot.
Nevertheless, the cars will reach top speeds of up to 320 kilometers per hour. After the tests in the simulator, Alfa Romeo driver Valtteri Bottas believes there will be some good chances of overtaking between the 19 corners. “This should be good old racing,” says the Finn. “It looks pretty fantastic. Lots of fast corners, really challenging, unusual corners, extremely long corners, very long straights”Alpha Tauri driver Pierre Gasly describes his impressions.
Hamilton sporty in problems
It is unlikely that the big star Hamilton will play a sporting role. After an extremely difficult start to the season for Mercedes, only the role of the pursuer remains in Miami – with no real chance of victory. The top teams Ferrari and Red Bull will decide among themselves. While Ferrari recently experienced a disaster in Imola, Red Bull celebrated their first double victory since 2016.
Source: dpa/msc