Editor's Desk: Miami GP contract extension

Now let me start with this: I am not a fan of the Miami GP, but let me explain why.

First of all, the track is fake, more a car park than a racing circuit, and the slow part of it makes the cars look so clumsy, more bumper cars than F1 cars.

Then we got the fake marinas and the fake beaches... What the hell is that?

I recall during the buildup towards the Las Vegas Grand Prix, the hype surrounding it worried me, and I loathed everything about it, but in the end, F1 delivered decent racing and an authentic Las Vegas experience, regardless of whether some like it or not.

Miami's event doesn't even deliver that. Maybe put some alligator ponds around the track, and then it will become more authentic. You can also use the track for Lego F1 racing... That was cute...

The latest race last weekend was saved by the weather in part, which made the Sprint Race more than just a glorified practice session where teams gather long-run data to then apply changes to their cars in preparation for qualifying and the race.

But will it rain every year in Miami from now till 2041? Doubtful.

We can thank Max Verstappen for saving Sunday's Grand Prix after denying Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri pole position and then defending against them with all his might, which was the highlight of the race.

For me, and I said this in my rant during the Two Soft Compounds podcast reviewing the latest Miami GP, renewing the race's contract for 16 years represents all that is wrong about F1 these days.

While tracks like Spa struggle to remain on the calendar, and while we will have to alternate between Monza and Imola, all great historical tracks, a fake wannabe like Miami International Autodrome gets a 16-year contract.

The money Liberty bagged must have been really, really good.

Then we have Monaco, which is blackmailed every time the contract comes up for renewal, asking the organizers to cede more control and pay more money just because it is too small for current F1 cars.

Actually, F1 cars have become too big for Monaco, which is another wrong thing about F1 these days, which is bound to get even worse when the 2026 F1 cars hit the track with their new power units and movable aero bits... But that fiasco is a discussion for another time.

And the list of tracks that are in trouble goes on as Formula One sells our sport to the highest bidder, and that, for me, is wrong.

No one can deny that tapping the US market is a big deal for Liberty Media, but do that gracefully. The race in Austin has been a great addition, and Las Vegas delivered a good balance between racing and show, but Miami is ridiculous.

16 years! Kimi Antonelli will be close to retiring at that point!