Motorsports

Oscar Piastri takes F1 Grand Prix, but Miami is real winner

Miami Grand Prix to feature drivable F1 cars made out of LEGOs Ever wonder what a F1 care made out of LEGOs would look like? Well the Miami Grand Prix has you covered as these unveil these drivable cars ahead of Sunday’s race. Sports Pulse Formula 1 and Miami have agreed to a 10-year extension, […]

Published

2 weeks ago

May 5, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Formula 1 and Miami have agreed to a 10-year extension, ensuring the Miami Grand Prix will continue through 2041.
The possibility of a night race is being discussed, although there are no immediate plans.
This year’s Grand Prix featured exciting racing, including Oscar Piastri’s third consecutive win and close battles throughout the field.

MIAMI GARDENS — Tom Garfinkel, managing partner of the Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix, wouldn’t say who had the idea first. No matter. The bigger point, really, is that both sides came to an understanding long before anyone was under the gun to make a commitment.

Miami wanted F1 for the long haul.

F1 wanted Miami for the long haul.

Oscar Piastri ended up taking the checkered flag in this weekend’s Miami Grand Prix, but the real winner was the event itself.

Is a nighttime Miami Grand Prix a possibility someday?

When officials announced a 10-year extension assuring there would be a Formula 1 race in South Florida at least through 2041, it was nearly akin to the Miami Dolphins giving first-round draft pick Kenneth Grant an extension on the rookie contract he hasn’t even signed yet. Think about it: It isn’t until next year’s Grand Prix that the two sides will hit the midpoint of their first contract.

“Securing that long-term extension here kind of tells the world, ‘OK, we’re here in the U.S., we’re here in Miami, we’re going to be here for a long time and we’re committed to this endeavor,” Garfinkel said hours before the weekend’s sold-out main event.

“I think having the extension allows us to invest more into the property, whether that is potentially the very preliminary discussions right now — whether to have a night race or not.”

Before anyone jumps to conclusions on racing after dark, Garfinkel added, “There’s no plans to do that right now.” Maybe not, but Garfinkel and his team have done enough homework to know that installing lights would cost in the neighborhood of $15 million to $20 million.

Garfinkel was orchestrating the weekend with an aching back, but race fans should be happy to know everything else about the situation has never seemed healthier, whether we’re talking on the track and off.

Grand Prix weekend offered no shortage of storylines

Fact is, race fans care about two things: The first is knowing there will be a race they can attend. The second is knowing the race will be worth watching. The weekend proved that not only is Item No. 1 secure, so too Item No. 2.

Last year everyone showed up expecting Max Verstappen to win. When he didn’t, it added an element of surprise to the F1 series that had long been lacking. Now? Piastri’s win was his third straight, but you still could make a case for Piastri, Lando Norris or Verstappen at any given time. That includes the Sprint support race in Miami that managed to cram about 81 laps of drama into an 18-lap dash.

Piastri took the lead for good in the Grand Prix on Lap 14 of the 57-lap race, but there was plenty of side-by-side battling going on as drivers jockeyed behind him. That included Ferrari teammates Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc. At one point, Hamilton did nothing to disguise his unhappiness with the team’s strategy over the radio, instructing those on the other end to “have a tea break.”

Victory assured, Piastri climbed from his car and celebrated by doing The Griddy, the touchdown dance favored by NFL players, in order to settle a bet. Piastri was goaded into it after meeting Minnesota Vikings receiver Justin Jefferson. Problem was Piastri didn’t anticipate he’d win, so he didn’t bother to rehearse. It showed.

Square in the middle of the weekend’s action was Kimi Antonelli, the 18-year-old who set the track record in Sprint qualifying, then proved it was no fluke when he bumped Piastri out of the No. 3 slot on the starting grid for the Grand Prix, where he placed a respectable sixth.

Antonelli was so busy setting firsts this weekend, you had to know he’s not going away anytime soon. Antonelli will be only 34 when Miami’s extension runs its course. That’s still is five years younger than Hamilton.

Speaking of the dominant, world-champion drivers, spend no time feeling sorry for Verstappen. Even though he won the first two runnings of the Miami Grant Prix but finished fourth this go-round, he still came away hearing congratulations. He and girlfriend Kelly Piquet welcomed their first child together, daughter Lily, last week. Then Max hopped on his private plane, flew to South Florida with little time to get reacquainted with the 19-turn circuit, and claimed the Grand Prix pole anyway.

Lego cars turn F1 drivers into kids again

This year’s event included a wrinkle that brought a smile to everyone’s face. More than 125 Miami Gardens students attended a Q&A session with drivers, then were surprised at the unveiling of life-sized Lego models of actual Formula 1 cars. The kids weren’t the only ones acting like kids. A couple of hours before the Grand Prix, F1 drivers hopped in the electrically-powered Lego cars and did a parade lap around the circuit at a blistering 20-odd mph.

Hamilton called it the most fun parade lap they’ve ever had despite “some of the dirtiest driving” by rivals. George Russell admitted that Norris was irked at him over a crash in their Legomobiles. The spirit was contagious.

All for an F1 series that spent most of the 1990s racing anywhere but in the United States. You could say things changed after Liberty Media bought F1 in 2016. Not only is Netflix’s “Drive to Survive” series creating a new set of fans, but June 27 will see the world premiere of “F1,” starring Brad Pitt and made by filmmakers responsible for “Top Gun: Maverick.”

Pitt’s car for the film was on display all weekend at Hard Rock Stadium. If there was one aspect of this year’s event that left no one smiling, it’s traffic around the stadium moving at about the same pace as Pitt’s car, which wasn’t going anywhere. Traffic was exacerbated by lane closures and construction on the adjacent Florida Turnpike. Even F1 drivers griped about it.

Yet another aspect of the event that had a distinct “Miami” feel, you could say. But it was the exception, not the rule.

The Miami Grand Prix is here to stay. The Miami Open tennis tournament has been a success. Now it’s up to Stephen Ross’ other property — a certain local NFL team — to match the pace the Miami Grand Prix and F1 have set.

“If we can build a great event around it that’s authentically Miami and unique and different than any other event, then hopefully that’s something people say, ‘Well, that’s one on the calendar I want to go to every year,’ ” Garfinkel said.

Every year until 2041, it seems.Dolphins reporter Hal Habib can be reached at hhabib@pbpost.com. Follow him on social media @gunnerhal. Click here to subscribe.

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Motorsports

Nitro Motorsports Heads to Lime Rock Park with Eight-Driver Lineup

May 21, 2025 May 21, 2025 – After an action-packed weekend at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, Nitro Motorsports is ready to regroup and reload as the Trans Am Series Presented by Pirelli heads east to Lime Rock Park for the next round of the CUBE 3 Architecture TA2 Series championship. With a powerful eight-driver roster, including a pair of NASCAR ladder series drivers, […]

Published

14 minutes ago

May 21, 2025

Your Sports Nation

May 21, 2025

Nitro Motorsports Heads to Lime Rock Park with Eight-Driver Lineup

May 21, 2025 – After an action-packed weekend at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, Nitro Motorsports is ready to regroup and reload as the Trans Am Series Presented by Pirelli heads east to Lime Rock Park for the next round of the CUBE 3 Architecture TA2 Series championship. With a powerful eight-driver roster, including a pair of NASCAR ladder series drivers, the North Carolina-based outfit looks to return to the top step of the podium on the historic Connecticut circuit in the Memorial Day weekend event.

Racing out of the Nitro Motorsports stable at Lime Rock will be:

Corey Heim

Thomas Annunziata

Sam Corry

Boris Said Jr.

Gian Buffomante

Julian DaCosta

Cale Phillips

Thad Moffitt

“We’ve got a deep lineup of talent heading into Lime Rock, and I’m excited to see what we can do as a team,” expressed Nick Tucker, Team Owner of Nitro Motorsports. “After a tough end to a promising weekend at Laguna Seca, everyone is fired up and ready to fight back.”

Last time out, Gian Buffomante turned heads by charging from 21st on the grid to finish third, earning his first career Trans Am podium and the Basset Hard Charger of the Race Award in the process. Boris Said Jr. showed his consistency as well, finishing fourth in class after penalties reshuffled the final order. Meanwhile, early front-runners Thomas Annunziata, the current TA2 championship point leader, and Sam Corry showed winning pace with Annunziata, a two-time race winner this season, looking to rebound after a disappointing event.

Julian DaCosta and Cale Phillips will pilot Nitro Motorsports machines at Lime Rock Park this weekend as they look for their best results of the season, as a pair of new names will join them in the series in 2025. Coming from the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and the ARCA Menards Series, Corey Heim and Thad Moffitt will race for Nitro Motorsports this weekend.

“We welcome Corey and Thad to our program this weekend as they have a slight break in their NASCAR schedules and can join us,” Tucker continued. “We’ve shown speed at every track this year. Now the goal is to put it all together—and get back to our dominating ways. With eight talented drivers in the paddock, I have no doubt we’ll be right in the mix this weekend.”

Set to hit the track on Friday for three test sessions, Saturday will be the home of qualifying and race one. Tune in LIVE all weekend long at GoTransAm.com.

For more information on Nitro Motorsports, please visit them online or contact Nick Tucker via email HERE or visit them online at www.RaceNitro.com.

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Motorsports

Rwanda: What’s Attracting Celebrities to Motorsport?

For a long time, motorsport has drawn the rich and famous from around the world. Rock stars, models, celebrities, and even world leaders have been spotted at Formula One (F1) races and other high-power rally events, and Rwanda is steadily catching up with this global trend. In 2022, Miss Rwanda 2017 third runner-up, Queen Kalimpinya, […]

Published

39 minutes ago

May 21, 2025

Your Sports Nation

In 2022, Miss Rwanda 2017 third runner-up, Queen Kalimpinya, made history by becoming the first Rwandan woman to compete in the Rwanda Mountain Gorilla Rally since its inception in 2002.

Her trailblazing move was soon followed by renowned radio personality Sandrine Isheja Butera, who boldly entered the world of rally driving in 2024.

Now, other big names like DJ Anita Pendo and rapper Ish Kevin, along with a growing number of Rwandan actors, broadcasters, and musicians, are developing a serious passion for the speed game. But what exactly is drawing this celebrity attention?

Family tradition

For rising rapper Ish Kevin, who was the most recent celebrity to step into rally driving, motorsport is a family affair.

He participated in the recent “Sprint Rally GMT” in Musha in Rwamagana District alongside his older brother Jacques Hakizimana. Their father Genese Semana, put family aside as he turned from parent to rival and competed against them during the GMT rally.

ALSO READ: Family tradition: Ish Kevin ventures into rally driving

“Personally, I drew my passion for racing from my family. My father and uncle hold several accolades in Rwanda’s Mountain Gorilla Rally, which is a legacy I want to keep alive,” Ish Kevin told The New Times.

With guidance from his uncle, Ish Kevin says he’s determined to elevate Rwanda’s motorsport scene and hopes to inspire more creatives, artists, musicians, and entertainers to join the sport, which offers considerable exposure and opportunities.

This family legacy approach isn’t unique to Rwanda. In Kenya, for example, motorsport also runs deep in several families. One notable case is the Gatimu family of Caroline Gatimu and Tinashe Gatimu, known for their mother-daughter rally racing duo.

Passion and exposure

For Kalimpinya, anything mechanical has always sparked her curiosity.

ALSO READ: Kalimpinya commends ‘growing presence’ of women in Rwandan motorsport

“It started in my neighborhood, where I rode a bicycle from a very young age, and later spent about six years riding motorbikes. That passion for machines naturally evolved into a love for cars,” Kalimpinya said.

Her entry into motorsports came when a racing driver noticed her enthusiasm and introduced her to rallying. She began as a co-driver, and through that experience, her love for the sport blossomed. Eventually, she took the driver’s seat and that’s when her real journey began.

She says it’s not just the thrill but also the discipline, adrenaline, and the constant challenges that got her hooked.

When asked whether her fame helped or hindered her racing career, Kalimpinya acknowledged that her name in the fashion and pageantry world definitely helped bring attention to her racing.

ALSO READ: Blazing a new trail: How Sandrine Isheja found herself into Motorsport

“It’s important. it attracts more people to the sport, especially young girls who need to see that it’s possible to be a female racer,” she said.

However, she is quick to note that fame alone doesn’t make one a successful driver.

“Motorsport requires resilience, intense training, and serious financial commitment. In fact, sometimes you have to work twice as hard. At the end of the day, the car doesn’t know who’s behind the wheel, it only responds to the skill and command of the driver,” she added.