Miami closes in on deal to host F1 Grand Prix

Miami's City Commission will vote next week on a motion granting the city manager the right to negotiate a multi-year agreement with Formula One to bring the sport to Florida in 2019.

F1's commercial rights holder is eager to add a second race in America, and has been researching several potential venues in what CEO Chase Carey has called 'destination cities' such as Miami, Las Vegas, New York or Los Angeles.

Next week's vote will be a crucial first step towards an event appearing on the F1 calendar as soon as October of next year.

"Formula One racing has global appeal and so does the City of Miami," said Eugene Ramirez, Miami's director of communications.

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Ramirez stressed however that any agreement reached by the city manager with FOM would still need to be put to the approval of the city commission.

Miami emerged late last year as the most viable candidate for a second race in the US after F1's representatives met with city Mayor Francis Suarez and outlined a possible street circuit running downtown around the American Airlines Arena and down Biscayne Boulevard.

Dutch media outlet Ziggo Sports F1 believes Miami's inclusion on the calendar could come to the detriment of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, that crazy venue that produced such a thrilling race last weekend in Baku.

Sean Bratches, Formula 1's managing director of commercial operations, released the following statement on the city of Miami's upcoming vote:

"Earlier today the City of Miami Commission took an important step by adding an item to their upcoming agenda, that if approved, will make way to bring Formula 1 to downtown Miami next season.

"We appreciate the community’s interest in hosting a Formula 1 race and look forward to working with local officials and stakeholders to bring this vision to life.

"With over half a billion fans worldwide, Formula 1 is the greatest racing spectacle on the planet, and Miami’s status as one of the world’s most iconic and glamourous cities, combined with its robust tourism infrastructure, makes Miami the perfect destination for Formula 1 and its fans."

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