Organisers of the Miami Grand Prix have admitted that they are open to the race becoming a night time event under floodlights.

Such a move would mean the race would be held in the middle-of-the-night as far as F1's European audience is concerned, but with the sport becoming increasingly 'American', and fans in other parts of the world having had to endure 'middle of the night' racing for decades this is unlikely to enter the equation.

What could be a factor is Florida's notorious weather, a heavy storm on Saturday night having washed away most of the previous two day's rubber.

F1's management is very keen on night races, especially with city backdrops, and surely Miami would fit the bill.

"We've had some discussions about that," admits Miami Dolphins CEO, Tom Garfinkel, co-promoter of the race. "We've had some discussions about potentially doing that.

"Obviously this time of year the weather's a little unpredictable," he admits, "the weather's been nice this year so far, last year was unseasonably hot, but there's a lot of factors that go into that with F1 and television and everything else so we've got to weigh all those things, but we're certainly open-minded to it."

There are currently six events on the calendar that take place under floodlights, however other than the weather another consideration is the disturbance to local residents, particularly as F1 had such a hard time getting permission for the race in the first place.

"We're not at a place where we're making a decision right now," stresses Garfinkel. "We're just having discussions where if we did it what would it look like."

Much work has been carried out on the track's facilities since last year's inaugural event, most notably the decision to relocate the teams' hospitality units to the Hard Rock Stadium's playing field.

Though this was done primarily with the race in mind, Garfinkel admits that the F1 facilities could turn out to be an all-year round money-maker.

"We'll do some things around football games, but we'll do some fun things," he said. "I'd like to leave the driver signs up above the garages and for football games we'll do some premium tailgating down there. So someone can rent out Lewis Hamilton's garage and have a bartender, they can pull their car right in, have a chef, do some premium tailgating as well."

Sigh.

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READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by Chester, 14/05/2023 15:40

"Thanks Kenji. Spa greatly interests me. May try for 2024. "

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2. Posted by Spindoctor, 12/05/2023 14:20

"I like COTA, but there have been issues with the stability of the surface - maybe more a problem for proper racing like MotoGP than for today's soapy F1. Otherwise it's a great track (from afar) for both disciplines.
Miami is awful place to race day or night."

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3. Posted by kenji, 11/05/2023 1:19

"@Chester....Whilst never attending COTA I still find it one of the very best tracks presented in any year since its inception. The layout offers up all the best possible design features. I am particularly in favour of many different elevation levels and tracks that haave those attributes are high on my best list. Spa and Portimao plus RBR are great tracks with the latter only suffering from ultimate track length. May you continue to enjoy COTA."

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4. Posted by Chester, 10/05/2023 16:13

"COTA is more than "fine". It is the finest racetrack I've been to (I'll admit I haven't been to Suzuka). It provides good racing while offering spectators the ability to watch the race- and lastly has reliable and quick transportation to the track.

Please don't mention COTA in the same breath as Miami and Las Vegas.

And a sincere question for those that have been to COTA: Have you been to a better track (good racing AND spectator view)? I ask because I'd like to experience your track. Question only applies to those who have been to COTA."

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5. Posted by Max Noble, 09/05/2023 23:30

"@esteemed editor - glad it gave you more of a smile than the Miami race!"

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6. Posted by Burton, 09/05/2023 20:55

"But if they turn it into a night-time event what will they offer to the rich wits with a T that currently go to the fake marina and the fake beach? Oh the humanity :("

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7. Posted by KKK, 09/05/2023 16:48

"Im all for a night race in Miami, just hope they dont put the lights on. It was a joke in the sun, it will be comical at night. "

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8. Posted by Superbird70, 09/05/2023 16:25

"The track will be illuminated by 'black light', and all the track markings and cars will be fluorescent. What a show!!"

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9. Posted by Malemoi, 09/05/2023 10:08

"Please no :( Miami circuit is already a circus with painted marinas etc. How plastic. Can the day race and lets get back to a circuit with some history and culture please. I shudder to think what Las Vegas is going to be like. COTA is fine - lets leave it there"

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10. Posted by Editor, 09/05/2023 9:44 (moderated by an Adminstrator, 09/05/2023 9:46)

"@ Max Noble

"The only green this sport is chasing right now is the US dollar…" now copyright Pitpass.

The $30 pints of beet you can keep"

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11. Posted by Max Noble, 09/05/2023 9:39

"Premium tailgating! Sign me up! Noting like $25 hot dogs, and $30 pints of beet to really get the party started! The first thing I think of when I turn up to a live sport event… is another sport… (actually no…)

Personally if we could get F1 to chill on racing in the rain I’d love to see a full-on wet night race, as the spray and lighting would make it horrific for the drivers. We’d see them sliding off all over, missing entire corners… only problem being someone would die…

So sure. The best way to have some good old fashioned fun is a night race using seven zillion zigs-watts of electricity just when we are trying to make the sport green…

The only green this sport is chasing right now is the US dollar…
"

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Organisers considering Miami night race

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