The organizers of the Miami Grand Prix say they’re “scratching the floor” of the potential draw {that a} Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari partnership may very well be this yr.
Hamilton’s first week at Maranello has attracted big curiosity after he drove for Ferrari for the primary time on Wednesday, as Components 1’s most iconic crew and its most profitable driver pair up in 2025. Miami Grand Prix president Tyler Epp says there are a number of storylines which might be driving fan curiosity in the USA this yr, however that the Hamilton transfer is prone to be the standout.
“At this level, we’re scratching the floor of it, however I feel all of us noticed it from a business standpoint final yr when it was introduced,” Epp instructed RACER. “Lewis’s presence within the sport – and never simply within the sport, even exterior the game, simply as a character and an envoy for motor racing typically – he’s simply so highly effective and so vital, and his success on the observe is so admired.
“Then you definitely take that, and as we’ve gotten to know the Ferrari enterprise fairly nicely – we’re doing a little enterprise with them in Might, and we do have interaction with them fairly closely right here in South Florida – it’s probably the most distinctive and highly effective manufacturers we’ve ever sort of gotten our arms round.
“And so to place these two items collectively, fueled by the ability of Components 1 on the world stage, I feel all of us see what may very well be the fact right here.”
Talking to RACER on the day the Miami Grand Prix started promoting one-day grandstand tickets for this yr’s race for the primary time – a transfer pushed by suggestions from followers asking for extra flexibility to tailor their entry to their very own necessities – Epp stated the best way the race continues to see progress in its native market is especially encouraging.
“If we’re taking an sincere take a look at it, we have now seen regular curiosity in our race,” he stated. “I might inform you that we’re happy with what we constructed. I say this rather a lot, however I feel the truth that Stefano [Domenicali] and Components 1 enable us to be Miami and we’re not simply one other Components 1 race in one other market is basically essential.
“We get an opportunity to specific ourselves slightly bit and do the issues that we do right here which might be a bit completely different than one other market, and I feel that our fanbase responds to that. A very powerful factor that that we see is we see continued, regular progress in our market wherein we dwell.
“South Florida continues to be an excellent marketplace for us, a market that’s rising, that’s partaking. I feel the slicing within the race observe for us in order that we have now extra motorsports occasions now all year long, built-in into our soccer schedule and our stadium schedule, I feel, helps that.
“We’re we’re seeing engagement in several methods, by way of social and by way of a few of our membership applications, that I feel is completely different and permits us to unfold our wings slightly bit, and usher in the local people and be sure that they’re a part of what we present yearly.
“So we have now seen regular progress, and we proceed to see it. And I do know that everyone needs me to say, like, ‘The F1 fan in us, we will’t determine it out, we don’t know what we’re doing’. That’s not what we’re seeing. The info is basically good for us, but it surely’s being pushed by South Florida, Latin America, and the remainder of the home U.S.”
