Latin Americans Unite for Formula 1 and Soccer Superstar in Miami
In the early days of the Formula 1 championship, only two major countries in Latin America had the privilege of hosting a grand prix. Argentina was one of them, delighting locals with the performances of Juan Manuel Fangio and José Froilán González throughout the 1950s. However, when Argentina lost its spot on the calendar in the 1960s, Mexico stepped up to the plate, hosting a race at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodríguez since 1963.
The Rise of Miami Grand Prix and Inter Miami
Fast forward to today, and while Mexico and Brazil continue to host F1 races late in the season, Latin Americans now have a third option for witnessing Formula 1 live: the Miami Grand Prix. The city’s allure, coupled with its proximity, affordable airfare, and strong cultural ties, has long attracted millions of visitors from Latin America. But in recent years, two more factors have come into play: the arrival of F1 and the signing of football superstar Lionel Messi to Inter Miami.
The inaugural Miami Grand Prix in 2022 was followed by Messi’s stunning signing to Inter Miami in mid-2023, fresh from leading Argentina to a historic World Cup victory in Qatar at the end of 2022. The long-awaited arrival of Formula 1 in the Sunshine State was warmly received by Latin Americans, both those living in the area and those seeing it as an opportunity to travel and experience F1 up close during one of the most exciting and spectacular races of the season.
Mexican driver Sergio Perez has played a significant role in growing Formula One’s Latino fan base since joining the sport in 2011, especially during his tenure at Red Bull, as evidenced by the 305% year-on-year increase in merchandise sales in 2022. Checo has undoubtedly contributed to thousands of Mexicans and Latinos from across the region making the Miami International Autodrome their home race, a big part of the 250,000+ fans that have attended the race each year since 2022, and the hundreds of millions of dollars the Miami Grand Prix has brought into the local economy.
Messi Mania Transforms Miami
At the same time, Messi Mania has transformed Miami. For a country where football isn’t even close to being the main sport, Inter’s Messi quickly proved an explosive combination that drew Latinos to see the Argentine superstar do what he does best with a ball at his feet. This weekend, F1 and Messi will once again come together, making Miami the ‘meeting place’ for Latin Americans looking to enjoy two world-class sporting events.
The Miami Grand Prix has proven to be a fan favorite in its three years on the F1 calendar, and the fact that it is a sprint weekend will only add spice to an already tense championship battle between McLaren‘s Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris, and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen. And half an hour’s drive from the Hard Rock Stadium, the epicenter of F1 in Miami, the Chase Stadium will be the backdrop for a clash between Inter Miami and New York Red Bulls on Saturday, meaning you can get a real buzz out of the sprint race and qualifying before heading to Fort Lauderdale to see Messi. Rest assured, that will be the master plan for many Latin Americans this weekend!
Tune in to watch this weekend’s Miami Grand Prix HERE with Sergio ‘Checho’ Rodriguez, Jessy Ochoa, and Rodolfo Cortes. Both shows will be live for Qualifying (Saturday) and Race (Sunday). Chat with the hosts, engage in polls and discussions, and test your motorsports knowledge in trivia for a chance to win exclusive F1 Miami merch! Enjoy a new way to follow all the action.
