For one sweaty, electric — and sometimes, wet — weekend, Miami became the epicenter of the sports and pop culture world.
Formula 1 brought their Super Bowl-sized operation to Florida for the fifth time on Sunday, May 3, but the party got underway well before the start of the iconic race itself, ultimately won by Mercedes’ 19-year-old phenom, Kimi Antonelli.
“This is just the beginning. The road is still long,” Antonelli told reporters after his third consecutive Grand Prix victory, which came on a rainy day that saw the race’s start time bumped up by three hours.
Us Weekly was on the grounds of the Miami International Autodrome starting on Thursday, April 30, for a VIP look into what makes the event one of the most highly-anticipated dates on the F1 calendar.
The Celebs
Over the course of the weekend, the guest list at the Grand Prix rivaled that of the 2026 Met Gala.
Serena Williams was seen at the Autodrome on Friday, May 1, spending time with the Ferrari team and driver Lewis Hamilton. Just steps away, Jimmy Fallon filmed a sketch with Red Bull drivers Max Verstappen and Isack Hadjar.
Noted motorsports enthusiast Patrick Dempsey was a fixture throughout the weekend.
On Saturday, Us spotted Love, Victor star Michael Cimino enjoying the F1 Sprint race, while San Francisco 49ers star Kyle Juszczyk and his wife, Kristin Juszczyk, partook in the action nearby.
Grand Prix race day really brought the big guns, with the likes of Colin Farrell, Lionel Messi, Alix Earle, Emma Roberts, Rafael Nadal and more flocking to the paddock on Sunday. Us also observed reality star Stassi Schroeder and her husband, Beau Clark, inside the Aston Martin club.
Actor Terry Crews, who is set to host 18-part YouTube series Crews Control with the Cadillac F1 team, exclusively told Us about the start of his F1 fandom.
“I was doing a movie in Budapest, Hungary and was invited to the Hungarian Grand Prix,” Crews, 57, said. “I didn’t know what to expect. I was like, ‘What is this?’ I didn’t know. And then I went and I could not believe my eyes. I couldn’t believe each car. They’re like little spaceships. It blew my mind.”
Crews now sees himself as a vessel — a way to help bridge the gap between F1 diehards and those looking to get interested in the sport for the first time.
“There’s so many fans who are like me and don’t understand what this is,” he explained. “Can I be the translator for America? Because it needs a bit of translation. When all these people started seeing me at Grand Prixs around the world, there were a lot of purists who were like, ‘Are you a real fan?’ There was all that gut-checking and it was very intimidating for anybody who even wants to get in.”
Crews continued, “I was like, ‘Calm down, I think this is awesome.’ There are so many people like me who want to be in, but don’t know how. So I was like, ‘Let me translate a bit.’”
The Food
Inside the ultra-exclusive Paddock Club, where tickets run upwards of $15,000, guests were treated to a curated blend of local flavors and international favorites.
Dishes included rack of lamb, lobster, pasta stations, chocolate fountains and more.
Of course, open bars with enough champagne stocked to make any race day a memorable one were present and frequently visited by the celebratory attendees.
Outside the Paddock Club, regular ticket holders had plenty of enticing options, too. The Autodrome grounds featured vendors specializing in smash burgers, sushi, pizza and other culinary specialities reflecting F1’s international appeal.
The Atmosphere
With the Miami Grand Prix being one of three events held annually in the United States, American driver Colton Herta gushed about the unique vibe throughout the weekend.
“It’s exciting. It’s nice to be home,” Herta exclusively told Us on Thursday. “I get to see my family, which is great. They’re coming to this one. You spend 99 percent of your time in other countries, so it’s very special when you get to come home. I definitely like to take it all in.”
The Santa, Clarita native finished in eighth place in the Formula 2 race in Miami on Sunday.
Jessica Hawkins, an Aston Martin ambassador and British driving champion, said all of the glitz and glamour of Miami can turn things into an impressively “overwhelming” weekend.
“There’s a lot of stimulation everywhere,” Hawkins exclusively told Us on Sunday. “It’s crazy. IUt’s one of my favorites of the year. I always look forward to coming here.”
She added, “The American races just bring that little extra bit of buzz.”
Aston Martin F1 reserve driver Jak Crawford — who celebrated his 21st birthday during race weekend — said racing fans in the States have a knack for turning a sport into a party.
“They treat all American sports like it’s a football game for three days,” Crawford exclusively said to Us on Sunday. “It’s always cool. Austin, Vegas, Miami are all huge events, which is cool to see. They play it up to be a huge event.”
