The FanAmp Team chatted with our community members who attended the Miami Grand Prix this year - hear what these F1 Fans had to say about their experience!
Welcome to our series - FanAmp Fan Takes, where F1 fans from all walks of life give you their tips, tricks, and insights about attending Grand Prix's all over the world.
Marie-Pier (@mariepier_4) - Long Time F1 Fan, Attended a few races
One piece of advice for people traveling
Stay hydrated! Miami is, not shockingly, very VERY warm. I brought Pedialyte powder and it saved me on the long days at the track. There are waters and water refill stations throughout the Miami Grand Prix Campus, but because it is SO hot and humid, having something with a little bit of extra strength can be a huge help if you're feeling dehydrated.
One thing that surprised you
The atmosphere and the track culture. Everyone was so nice to each other throughout the entire weekend, regardless of how their driver was performing or who other people cheered for. It was a great environment for everyone who was in attendance from children to lifelong fans. Special shout out of course to the amount of celebrations when Lando won the race!
One thing you brought with you that you couldn’t live without
There are definitely a few things. Again, it is extremely hot and sunny, so naturally bringing a portable fan is a must! You can purchase one off of Amazon easily before you attend any warm race. There is also a lot of walking in this heat, so I brought an Anti-chafe stick to make that a bit more comfortable - even though you'll be sweating anyway. Last, but not least, as I mentioned above Pedialyte saved me. It's very easy to just add to any beverage at the track (especially water).
Allyson (@aalllyson) - New(ish) F1 Fan, First Race (Local)
One piece of advice for locals traveling
There are many factors that come into play when traveling to the Miami GP, especially because it is at Hard Rock and such a large event with long hot days. It's not just about the actual travel itself, but consider the cost of rides, the amount of energy it takes (i.e. multiple transfers, walking to pick ups etc...), and your level of exhaustion at the end of a long day. It might be worthwhile in your head to take a less expensive route to the race (such as public transport), but at the end of a very long day rideshare could really be the correct answer for you.
One thing that surprised you
The feeling of community with people who are also attending the Miami Grand Prix. I was very surprised to connect with SO MANY different people at the track - especially as a woman of color in motorsports. I was worried about not being taken seriously as a fan and that wasn’t an issue at all. I met so many amazing people and had the best time.
One thing you brought with you that you couldn’t live without
Electric fan mister bottle. You can purchase one on Amazon, easily! Bringing any type of portable fan will be a lifesaver considering how hot it is, but the add-on of a mister not only stops the sweat but cools you down dramatically!
Vighnesh (@viggyy08) - Long time car enthusiast, New F1 Fan, First Race
One piece of advice for people traveling
It's extremely hot, sunny, and humid. Stay hydrated! Downing a Gatorade before the event helped! They also had water stations and water vendors around the track, near every grandstand and fan zone so you could replenish your water throughout the day.
One thing that surprised you
The diversity in the crowd that attended! You would see fans of every single driver, every single team, from all walks of life - young, old, families, and everyone in between. The Miami Grand Prix is an amazing race for literally anyone to attend and have a great time!
One thing you brought with you that you couldn’t live without
It is extremely sunny and very warm in Miami, so you should bring sun protection - specifically a hat. Although parts of each of the grandstands had shade, pretty much everywhere else did not - as well as lower rows in grandstands, the Beach Club etc...
Nick (@nickforslund) - Netflix Era F1 Fan, Second F1 race but first in the US
One piece of advice for people traveling
Be strategic with how you book and spend your money. There are plenty of places and areas to stay in depending on what vibe you’re looking for - ESPECIALLY when it comes to proximity to the track vs saving money. Also, they're not well advertised, but there are tons of transportation options! You are not stuck relying on Uber or renting a car! Either way, stay hydrated!
One thing that surprised you
The food! The food was 'festival expensive' but much better quality than I was expecting. The food actually tasted good and there were so many options all around the entire track. Also transportation! Overall relying on cars (whether your own or an Uber) wasn’t cheap, but they had a lot of options including free shuttles!
Check out our race guide to learn more about the free shuttles
One thing you brought with you that you couldn’t live without
Phone, Sunscreen, and Water! It is extremely hot and you obviously need the essentials! Also, having F1 merchandise previously and bringing it to the track helps you avoid F1 merch on the track with insane markups. (Yes all merch on track is much more expensive than everywhere else.)
Heading to a Formula 1 Grand Prix this year? Download FanAmp to meet others attending your race!
Want more information about Miami? Check out our Miami GP articles