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A16 sports
Tuesday 10 May 2022
F1's hyped 1st trip to Miami a money-losing success

By JENNA FRYER self out because I hit the
AP Auto Racing Writer first curb and your head just
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) bounced from left to right,
— The Miami Grand Prix like at least five, six times,
was hot, from the party but really bad," Verstappen
scene to the weather, but said. "It's so slow and I think
it faced nearly impossible our cars look way better if
expectations. it's a bit more of a flowing
The celebrity watching combination."
was top level, certainly for The good news is that pro-
a motorsports event. There moter Tom Garfinkel said
was Paris Hilton, using a before Sunday's race that
portable fan to cool her- organizers would listen to
self as she danced in front all feedback and make
of the McLaren garage on any changes required to
race day. Serena and Ve- improve the event, includ-
nus Williams holding hands ing track alterations.
as they navigated the pre- He also was cognizant of
race grid in summer dress- other areas that fell short
es. Bad Bunny, the Puerto — hospitality inside the F1
Rican entertainment icon, paddock wasn't up to se-
making a flashy entrance in ries standards on Friday's
an all-pink suit while hang- Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc of Monaco leads the field at the start of the Formula One Miami opening day; pedestrian
ing with Sergio Perez, Red Grand Prix auto race at the Miami International Autodrome, Sunday, May 8, 2022, in Miami Gar- bridges across the cam-
Bull's Mexican driver. dens, Fla. pus were clogged; shade
There were tons of bells Associated Press could be difficult to find —
and whistles, too, from food and said it would all be ad-
halls, art installations, ham- popularity has swelled over the parking lot and then featured 10 yachts and a dressed even though the
mocks, chaise lounges to the last three years. The went off the charts building mini-Monaco backdrop. race won't make a profit in
cabanas and a man-made United States was given the scene around it. Tickets There were gondolas to fer- its first year.
beach. But did Formula two F1 races this season never went on sale to the ry fans across the sprawling "The expenses far exceed-
One's debut in this sleek, for the first time since 1984 general public because of circuit, and a beach club ed our expectations," Gar-
cosmopolitan city measure and next year there will be early interest and capacity that featured musical acts finkel said. "But it was be-
up as a good event? three, with Las Vegas — the was capped at 85,000 to throughout the three-day cause we were trying to do
That all depends on per- glitziest city of them all? — create a pleasant — and weekend. everything we could to be
sonal expectations. The playing host. exclusive — customer ex- Many at this event were first class, to be on brand
expectations were so high, Miami received a 10-year perience. hooked on F1 by the Netflix for what Formula One is
after all. contract for its extrava- The track weaved around behind-the-scenes docu- and the kind of event we
F1 wants to tap into the rich ganza at Hard Rock Stadi- the stadium, under an series "Drive To Survive." wanted to deliver."
North American sponsor- um, where promoters built highway overpass and Each episode covers an The event still had some of
ship market as the series' a 3.36-mile circuit through around a fake marina that entire storyline — some- that classic F1 backroom
times multiple races — and drama with the FIA insist-
it's been credited for ex- ing it will enforce its ban
MLB plans London games in 2023, 2024 posing the glamorous F1 on drivers wearing jewelry
world to Americans. Netflix while competing. Seven-
and 2026 and F1 even waited for the time champion Lewis Ham-
series to arrive last week in ilton protested by wearing
Miami to announce "DTS" three watches, eight rings
split two games at London's has been renewed for two and multiple necklaces,
Olympic Stadium in June
2019. The St. Louis Cardinals more seasons. but ultimately removed ev-
The racing, alas, was just erything but some piercings
and Chicago Cubs were
scheduled to play there on OK, 57 mostly uneventful before getting in his car.
laps on a track drivers did The FIA granted Hamilton
June 13-14, 2020, but those
games were canceled be- not like. Fernando Alonso a waiver for the next two
said drivers complained to races so he can make
cause of the coronavirus
pandemic. governing body FIA that plans to have piercings
"the tarmac is not F1 stan-
he can't take out surgi-
The Cardinals and Cubs are
the leading candidates to dard" and promoters twice cally removed. The Briton
had to repave portions of must have all his piercings
play in London next year.
Baseball Commissioner Rob the track before Sunday's removed by the Monaco
race.
Grand Prix on May 29 or risk
Manfred and London May-
or Sadiq Khan announced The asphalt "almost feels a fine of $308,000 (250,000
like gravel," said Max Ver-
pounds).
the formation of the MLB
Chicago Cubs second baseman Nick Madrigal, left, throws London Legacy Group on stappen, the reigning world Hamilton is having a terrible
out Los Angeles Dodgers Justin Turner at first after forcing out Monday that will include champion who won for the season by his standards. His
Trea Turner at second base during the seventh inning in the first third time through the first spat with FIA has created
baseball game of a doubleheader Saturday, May 7, 2022, in members from the Great- five races of the season. He speculation he will quit F1
Chicago. er London Authority and also said the chicane was and he suggested he might
Associated Press Baseball Softball UK. suited for a kart race and not bend on this issue, say-
MLB plans to hold a Home
NEW YORK (AP) — Major in London in 2023, 2024 and Run Derby at London's not an F1 car. ing Friday: "If they stop me,
League Baseball intends to 2026. The New York Yan- Crystal Palace Park on July "In the four laps I did on Fri- then so be it. We've got a
play regular-season games kees and Boston Red Sox 9 this year.q day, I almost knocked my- spare driver."q