According to recent reports, local Miami residents have launched a late legal lawsuit as they attempt to cancel the first Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix, which will take place in May this year. The event is set to become the second American race on the Formula 1 calendar, as the sports heads to Miami next month, thus joining the Circuit of the Americas in Texas which has been a a reference on the calendar for the last decade.
Formula 1 has been working hard in order to expand in the lucrative United States market during the las five years, after the series was purchased from former boss Bernie Ecclestone by Liberty Media, an American mass media company. Since that moment, the behind-the-scenes Netflix series Drive to Survive has had a major contribution in boosting the sport’s popularity in many countries, but especially in the US, as broadcast rights holder ESPN confirmed its highest Formula 1 viewing figures since 1995 for the first race of the current championship, which took place at the Bahrain International circuit.
The Miami Grand Prix was first confirmed back in 2018 but since that moment the event was met with significant opposition from residents group, who have expressed their concerns about noise pollution and potential health consequences. The circuit itself rounds the Hard Rock Stadium, home of NFL side the Miami Dolphins.
The lawsuit was submitted by Betty Ferguson, the former Miami-Dade County Commissioner, and explains that residents up to 2.5 miles away will be forced to endure 97 decibels of noise ‘similar to the sound levels produced by a chainsaw.’ It also states that the noise levels will ’cause severe disruption and physical harm to Miami Gardens residents.’
Judge Alan Fine is overseeing the lawsuit, but says he cannot rule either way at present because the city has yet to issue F1 with the special events permit it requires to host the race. Once the permit has been awarded, it could in theory be revoked.
‘Numerous courts before me have resisted the temptation to jump into something that hasn’t been issued yet,’ Judge Fine explained. ‘Shouldn’t I wait to see if the city manager issues the special events permit? We are in this limbo state prior to the issuance of a special events permit. It’s a very uncomfortable place for a court to be.’
Show your support for Scuderia Ferrari with official merchandise collection from Puma! Enter the online Pume Store and shop securely! And get your F1 tickets for every race with VIP hospitality and unparalleled insider access. Click here for the best offers to support Charles and Carlos from the track!
Starting with the 2023 Formula 1 season, the sport will add another race in the United States: Las Vegas has been officially confirmed to return on the calendar for the first time since 1982. The event is scheduled to take place in November 2023, and will most likely coincide with Thanksgiving. The Las Vegas Grand Prix will start at 10pm local time on Saturday night, as Formula 1 intends to draw as big an American audience as possible, while also providing the European public with a decent timetable for the race weekend.
Leave a Reply