Path Now Clear For F1 Miami Grand Prix in 2022

• It appears that local government in Miami has cleared the way for Formula 1 to race in South Florida as early as 2022.

• While Formula 1 has yet to comment publicly on a 2022 Miami Grand Prix, series leaders from the U.S. are expected to be in attendance for Sunday's F1 Grand Prix in Imola, Italy. That suggests the timing could be ripe for an announcement.

• It has been Liberty Media’s ambition since the firm took over the commercial rights of the sport in 2017 to have a second Formula 1 race in the United States.

The grandstands at Imola, Italy, will be empty again this weekend, with the local authorities unwilling to accept an event with spectators.

The paddock, however, will be bustling, as it is expected that Liberty Media boss Greg Maffei and former F1 CEO Chase Carey will be in attendance, jetting in from the U.S. to watch the action. With Italy locked down for more than a month, it is a strange place to go for a casual visit, but if there is a good reason it might make more sense, particularly as Carey has never been a big motor racing fan.

And what’s a good reason?

Well, announcing a second Formula 1 race in the United States in 2022 would be a pretty good explanation. It has been Liberty Media’s ambition since the firm took over the commercial rights of the sport in 2017 and Carey spent nearly four years trying to make it happen.

Why now? Because on Wednesday in Florida the city council of Miami Gardens voted in favor of a proposal that will allow the race to go ahead.

The city’s new mayor, Rodney Harris, who took over the job at the start of this year, asked the council to accept a deal for a Formula 1 race plan that will benefit local residents and locally owned businesses. New commitments made by the race promoter minimize disruption by the promoter's agreeing to respect restrictions placed on the track design, and to accept noise mitigation, air quality monitoring, and to limit the hours when the cars can circulate.

At the same time the race promoter has also agreed to direct community benefits for the residents and businesses of Miami Gardens.