Like many F1 fans, my infatuation with the sport grew after watching Netflix’s “Formula 1: Drive to Survive.” I learned that F1 doesn’t just attract celebrities, the drivers are full-fledged celebrities themselves, strolling the paddock in designer looks and hopping on flights immediately after the podium celebration to hit up a red carpet (we see you, Lewis Hamilton, who co-chaired the 2025 Met Gala hours after taking eighth place for Ferrari).
F1 doesn’t just attract celebrities, the drivers are full-fledged celebrities themselves, strolling the paddock in designer looks and hopping on flights immediately after the podium celebration to hit up a red carpet.
The Formula 1 Crypto.com Miami Grand Prix in particular is a hot spot for influencers and celebrities alike, and that’s not about to change. The motorsport event, which takes place at Hard Rock Stadium, is now the longest contracted race on the Formula 1 calendar, as a 10-year extension through 2041 has just been announced. And while you might have heard that the Monaco Grand Prix is home to the majority of the glitz and glam each season, Miami attracted a crowd of 275,480 fans this year, who watched the F1 drivers parade the track in custom-built, drivable LEGO cars ahead of the race on Sunday while Tiësto performed on a bridge above the grid. Celebrities such as Timothée Chalamet (who walked right by me at the Red Bull Energy Station Activation wearing a befitting jersey – casual!), chef Gordon Ramsay, who is currently collaborating with F1 on hospitality in the garage, Terry Crews, Michael Douglas, DJ Khaled, Lisa, Chris Stapleton, and Jon Bon Jovi, were all in attendance. Plus, there were performances from Pitbull, Kygo, Kaskade, and Sofi Tukker keeping the party going at the Hard Rock Beach Club.
In the name of conducting an editor experiment that would allow me to report on the F1 hype, I committed to racking up as many celebrity experiences as possible, from touring the high profile F1 Paddock Club, where champagne by the glass is readily available all weekend long, to eating and partying at the biggest Miami hot spots. I also made time to luxuriate in hotel spas and poolside cabanas (what, like it’s hard?). Ahead, read my tried-and-true guide to experiencing the F1 Miami Grand Prix like a celebrity and shop along the way.
What to Do at the F1 Miami Grand Prix
Image Source: PS Photography / Sarah Wasilak and Formula 1 Crypto.com Miami Grand Prix
As part of my experience at the Grand Prix, I was lucky enough to get a full tour of the F1 Paddock, where drivers and crews gather at hospitality for meals, interviews, and team prep work before heading to their respective garages. I walked through the BWT Alpine garage on Saturday ahead of the Sprint Race and was most amazed by how pristine everything was, from the gleaming headsets that enable real-time communication during the races to the tech in the driveway where the Alpine team was warming up to work quickly and efficiently during a pit stop, even allowing me to stick around for a few trial runs.
The Paddock Club, which is exclusive to VIPs or those willing to pay upwards of $9,000 for the experience (for the ultimate splurge!), is inclusive of gourmet meals, curated from local Miami hot spots; premium activations (I stopped by the Alo Yoga Recovery Pit Stop for a quick B12 shot – NBD); a wide selection of spirits; shopping and art gallery installations; and unparalleled views of the track. Oh, and did I mention air conditioning? Given the brutal Miami heat and humidity, that does, in fact, count for something.
There are plenty of other activations scattered around the track, such as the aforementioned Red Bull Energy Station, Chase Sapphire Reserve Lounge, where I got to customize a Members Only Iconic Racer Jacket ($98) with patches, and Liquid I.V. Race House and Livery, which included high-speed dual circuit and podium views, and of course hydration in the form of the Liquid I.V. Hydration Multiplier ($28).
This dedication to exclusivity speaks to F1’s luxury tie-in. LVMH and Formula 1 solidified a 10-year partnership this year, with Louis Vuitton designing the Miami Grand Prix bespoke trophy trunk, which was splashed in a revamped logo and awarded to McLaren’s Oscar Piastri on Sunday, May 4. It made appearances on the starting grid, during the national anthem sequence, and finally, on the podium during the trophy presentation.
Best Hotels For F1 Miami Grand Prix
Image Source: PS Photography / Sarah Wasilak
The Greater Miami & Miami Beach team set me up with some of the most exclusive accommodations in Miami for race weekend. I began my stay at the historical Fontainebleau ($359 per night), which has been an iconic landmark since 1954 when it set the tone for a glamorous beachfront scene, hosting the likes of Frank Sinatra and Elvis Presley at its famous nightclub. I got to experience a signature Revitalizing Swedish Massage at the hotel’s Lapis Spa, soak up the sun and enjoy tropical cocktails at one of the 11 distinctive pools (wearing my go-to Supergoop! Glowscreen SPF 40 ($38), and work out every morning in the state of the art fitness center – all of which are my absolute favorite things to do while on vacation.
My next stop was The Ritz-Carlton Coconut Grove ($1,299 per night), which is definitely a splurge, but undoubtedly one of the best hotels in Miami. It’s close to downtown restaurants and clubs, offers a boutique spa experience, and first-rate service with lavishly-furnished rooms. Here, I enjoyed the sunset while sipping coconut water after a long day at the track, got ready for a night out in the spacious marble bathroom, then dined at Isabelle’s in the onsite garden the following morning for brunch. My stay culminated with a poolside cabana stocked with fresh fruit and snacks before my flight.
F1 Miami Grand Prix Celebrity Restaurants
Image Source: PS Photography / Sarah Wasilak
I can confidently say I ate at the best restaurants in Miami, many of which various celebrities were spotted at during the course of race weekend. I tried the viral spicy rigatoni vodka on the menu at Carbone Vino Coconut Grove; delighted in a chef-prepared somakase tasting at Uchi, where there’s a dynamic maki roll on the menu named after Camila Cabello (she name-drops the hot spot in her song “Dream-Girls,” FYI); had a vivacious pre-race day Italian brunch at Sofia in the Miami Design District; celebrated with prime skirt steak and truffle fries in front of live entertainment at the 1920s-inspired Delilah night club; and finally, attended the Red Bull team’s dinner and afterparty at Sexy Fish, where we stayed out way past my bedtime. I’m still tired as I’m writing this, but needless to say I’d take a victory lap and do it all over again.
What to Wear to the F1 Miami Grand Prix
Image Source: PS Photography / Sarah Wasilak
Staying at some of the most prestigious hotels in Miami during F1 Grand Prix weekend called for coordinated outfits, since F1 fashion is very much a thing. I leaned towards monochrome red, my favorite look being this Zara Contouring Stretch Bodysuit ($36), Zara Stretch Contouring Midi Skirt ($40), Zara Patent Leather Slingback Pumps ($50), and Parisa Wang leather shoulder bag (shop similar: JW Pei Harlee Shoulder Bag ($76, originally $89). After checking in at The Ritz-Carlton on race day morning, I changed into my Lulus Mariette Red Knit Button-Front Vest Top ($49), Lulus Mariette Red Tailored Knit Shorts ($39), vintage Miu Miu sunglasses, and Adidas Samba OG Sneakers ($115).
Sarah Wasilak (she/her) is the associate director of PS Shopping. With plenty of experience in the fashion industry and over 10 years as an editor at the brand, she enjoys writing across the lifestyle, health, and fitness categories. She is the host of the “Dinner For Shoes” podcast and has bylines at InStyle, Elle, Refinery29, Who What Wear, Elite Daily, Byrdie, and The Quality Edit.
Travel and expenses for the author were provided by GMCVB for the purpose of writing this story.
