Here’s how much the 2022 Miami Grand Prix is ​​costing fans

Ferrari's Charles Leclerc in front of a crowded grandstand at the Miami Grand Prix

Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc in front of a crowded grandstand at the Miami Grand Prix
Photo: Chandan Khanna / AFP (Getty Images)

Formula 1 2022 Miami Grand Prix was always going to be a display of excessbut many fans just didn’t realize How? ‘Or’ What it was going to be expensive until ticket prices soared into the thousands of dollars – and that was before flights, rental cars, accommodation and food costs. So how was it for the average fan to watch the race? I had to know.

My good friends Kate and Nicole at the Podcast Two Girls 1 Formula headed to the race as fans, and after us chatted about the race, i asked them to tell me what it would cost them to attend.

I want to emphasize that Kate and Nicole are not, like cousins ​​of Paris Hilton or members of the Kardashian family or descendants of Monegasque royalty. They are, like me, two very cool humans who are really into motorsport and just wanted to get into racing. They are both employed in the press relations or communications industries for non-motorsports events, and they came to Miami for a mini-vacation – and they were kind enough to help make the light on Grand Prix spending for the good folks here in Jalopnik.

Tickets

Kate and Nicole were two of the lucky fans who managed to get tickets in the presale, and they had two tickets for the second row of the Red Bull grandstand at turn 18, which they told me cost $720 each.

“After talking to other people who have purchased pre-sale tickets, this seems to be the lowest price available,” they told me. The only cheaper tickets were general admission, which did not guarantee a specific seat.

Travel

When it came to getting to the runway, Kate and Nicole — from Boston and New York, respectively — opted not to fly direct to Miami, but to Fort Meyers, Florida, where they stayed with friends. It was a smart move, as it allowed them to borrow a friend’s car for the weekend, and it also cut flight costs.

Returning from Miami, Nicole drove her friend’s car back to Fort Meyers and flew from that airport. Kate looked at the prices of flights to Miami and Ft. Lauderdale and chose the cheapest option.

In total, they said their flights ranged between $300 and $500depending on which Florida airport they chose.

“We bought flights in January in order to anticipate the rush,” they added. “Thefts ended up going up at least $100-200 by race time.

I can absolutely attest to that; I started looking at my flights in late April when the cheapest round trip tickets from San Antonio to Miami were over $600.

Fans at the 2022 Miami F1 Grand Prix

Fans at the 2022 Miami F1 Grand Prix
Photo: Alex Bierens de Haan (Getty Images)

Accommodation

Kate and Nicole shared an Airbnb home with three other friends, and they chose to stay closer to Hard Rock Stadium than downtown for easier travel. Split between five people between the Thursday and Monday of the race weekend, they said it cost around $300 per person.

They told me they “really recommend” staying at an Airbnb because it gives them the opportunity to stay with friends and have home-cooked meals to save money – and I totally agree. ‘OK. The cost of my Hollywood Airbnb for an entire weekend was about equal to the cost of one night in a South Beach hotel. I had parking, a kitchen, and tons of space to spread out.

Food

“We didn’t eat much on the track because it was just too hot, and most of the food was also hot,” Kate and Nicole told me. “We ate big breakfasts before we hit the track every day, and then had some food.”

This was probably a wise move, as food prices on the right track were quite high. Business Intern noted that the burgers were $16 each and the hot dogs $10 each. Kate and Nicole added that the water bottles were sold for $5, but the recyclable aluminum bottles the water came in got hot very quickly. After noticing they could bring their own sealed water bottles and small snacks inside, they opted to do so rather than buying on-track food.

Travel to and Fof the track

By borrowing a friend’s car, Kate and Nicole saved a lot of money on rental cars and carpools, but parking for the race ended up getting expensive $180 for the weekend.

“There were a few options for driving: park and drive, or park and walk,” they told me. The park and walk option allowed you to park closer to the trail, but required you to walk to the door. The park and transport option allowed you to park farther away, but a shuttle ride to the door.

“We chose to park and walk and took a short walk to get in,” they added.

For dinner or non-running trips, they used an Uber XL, which they say costs around $50 in each direction.

In sum

All told, Kate and Nicole each spent at least $1,410 – and that only counts race tickets, flights, accommodation and parking for the event. They probably also racked up charges for gas, diners, Ubers, etc.

No Formula 1 race is ever exactly cheap, but Miami’s ticket prices alone have cemented its place as one of the priciest events on the F1 calendar – and the city itself and venue have hiked prices to keep up with demand. So, if you plan to participate in this race in the future, it is best to start saving now.

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