29 April 2025 13:40 (UTC)
"We can't wait to go racing again"
A lot can change in a year.
The last time we were in Miami, we’d won just once in 12 years and were still at the start of our journey back to the front of the grid. For all of the internal belief in the work we were doing, the thought of becoming regular race winners and firm Championship challengers quite so quickly seemed fanciful… and yet, we return to the Magic City on the back of a trophy-laden 12 months.
Lando’s thrilling victory at this circuit last year was a key marker in McLaren becoming title contenders. It instilled a confidence within the team that’s grown massively since and culminated in our strongest start to a season since 1998.
We caught up with Lando, Oscar and Team Principal Andrea Stella ahead of their journeys to the US to get their thoughts on our start to the season and what you can expect this weekend. We’ve also listed off some of our favourite things about Miami, the circuit’s biggest challenges and prepared our usual pre-race quiz question.
“It’s been good to recharge after a busy triple-header, but I’m excited to get back in the car, especially in Miami. It’s where I won my first F1 race, so this place is special to me. The fans here also bring a great atmosphere, so I’m excited to see all the papaya in the stands.
“Last week, I was back at the MTC with the team, and back in the sim to prepare for Miami. It’s a Sprint weekend which means there are more points to race for. It should be another good weekend – bring it on!”
“I’m excited to be getting back to business this weekend in Miami and will be aiming to execute another strong all-round weekend before we head into the European swing of the season.
“I love the city, the atmosphere and the people and it’s a track that I’m feeling very positive about. It’s also a Sprint weekend, so there will be plenty of opportunities to keep the current momentum and energy building.”
“After a successful triple-header, we now head to the US for the Miami Grand Prix. This is a special race for us as it’s where Lando took his first F1 race win, which was a key turning point in our journey to becoming World Champions last year. This year, the level of competition is potentially even greater than last season, so we go to Miami focused on maintaining momentum and consolidating our progress.
“The fans always add to the already exciting atmosphere in Miami, and as always are of great encouragement to the team, we can’t wait to go racing again.”
Miami has been a vibrant addition to the Formula 1 calendar. Known for its white sandy beaches, vibrant art deco district, and year-round sunshine, the Magic City, as it is affectionately known, is bursting with colourful character.
Whether you want to top up your tan and relax on the beach or dance through the night at one of the city’s lively bars, you’ll never be short of activities away from the racing. Set in Miami Gardens, not far from Downtown Miami, Miami is renowned for its culinary scene and Caribbean restaurants.
The Grand Prix itself is a glamorous event that draws stars from the world of sports, music, and film. Miami is famous for its sporting legacy, with major teams in the NFL, the MLB, the NBA and the MLS. The circuit is even set inside the Hard Rock Stadium, home to Miami’s NFL team.
The biggest challenge when the Miami International Autodrome originally made its debut was a lack of grip, but a resurfacing swiftly solved that issue and has since resulted in much better racing.
Overtaking was initially difficult and remains more challenging than at other circuits, but there are three possible places where battling can take place and teams will be looking to take advantage of these in both the Sprint and Sunday’s Grand Prix.
There’s one immediately at the opening corner, a low-speed right-hander that precedes the 400-metre long pit-straight, but the other two arrive later on in the lap.
Overtaking is possible after the DRS straight at Turn 11, after which, cars are bunched up during a series of tight and twisting turns, ahead of the circuit’s longest straight and another chance to make a move at Turn 17.
THIS WEEKEND
The last time we won four of the five opening races was back in 1998. Oscar bettered Max Verstappen last time out in Saudi Arabia to claim his third win of 2025 and our fourth overall. We’ve also notched an additional four podiums and currently top the Constructors’ and the Drivers’ Championships.
Our Miami collections are as colourful as the city itself. They consist of pinks, purples, navies, whites, and various other vibrant Miami-inspired pieces. The collection is bright and beautiful, with various T-shirts, hoodies, quarter-zips, and Cuban shirts available from Castore and Reiss, as well as caps from New Era and shades from SunGod.
