Method 1 Miami Grand Prix president Tyler Epp has admitted he was fallacious to query the addition of a dash race to the occasion earlier this 12 months.
Having hosted its first grand prix in 2022, the Miami Worldwide Autodrome was certainly one of six circuits introduced as staging certainly one of F1’s dash races this season.
Max Verstappen took victory within the 19-lap race on the Saturday earlier than title rival Lando Norris secured his maiden F1 win within the grand prix a day later.
Miami has since been confirmed as retaining a dash race for 2025. The only planned change to the roster sees Belgium replacing Austria among the many six tracks allotted the shorter race format.
Epp concedes he was incorrect to have initially been cautious of introducing a dash race in Miami – having since seen the business profit and the optimistic response of followers.
“I used to be fallacious concerning the dash race, I used to be very involved concerning the worth proposition there, however I couldn’t have been extra fallacious,” he informed Motorsport.com.
“I will probably be clear in saying I wasn’t within the camp once we first did the deal however the suggestions and the information we obtained confirmed that 12 months over 12 months our attendance was up on a Saturday, they usually had been there early for a dash race.
Lando Norris, McLaren MCL38
Photograph by: Steven Tee / Motorsport Photos
“After we take a look at gate scans and we take a look at knowledge, they weren’t coming for qualifying, they had been coming for the dash race.
“I used to be fallacious, it has been a extremely, actually good factor for us. I perceive it hasn’t been that method for each promoter, however we actually have loved and see actual business worth in internet hosting a dash race, it has been incredible for us.”
In addition to the dash race staying in place, Epp revealed he additionally expects the help race schedule to look very related subsequent 12 months.
F1 Academy debuted in Miami in 2024 having been staged in Austin in its inaugural season the earlier 12 months, whereas the Porsche Deluxe Carrera Cup North America is prone to return for a 3rd consecutive 12 months.
For Epp, these occasions usually are not simply so as to add to the spectacle for the spectators however are additionally key to getting ready for higher circumstances for the F1 races.
“It does matter what goes on the observe earlier than Method 1 does. In 12 months one it was made very clear that no person will get on the observe earlier than they did as a result of they needed to be the primary on the brand new observe,” he mentioned.
“In 12 months three help races had been profitable for us, placing Porsche on the observe and F1 Academy on the observe, was an actual optimistic. Now, the racing strains aren’t at all times precisely the identical however simply laying rubber down did impression what the race groups had been coping with on observe.
Max Verstappen, Purple Bull Racing RB20
Photograph by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Photos
“From our perspective, we’re very dedicated to 2 help sequence in some capability, and we predict to have the same line up subsequent 12 months.
“We discovered rather a lot in years one and two, we tackle challenges and errors and are trustworthy about it, we attempt to assault them full throttle.
“Yr two to 12 months three was nearly tweaks and in years 4 and 5 I feel it’s simply as essential we take heed to our prospects – we’ve put an enormous emphasis on that within the final 12 months.”