MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – Formula 1’s entrance into the United States will surely be helped by the celebrity star power in attendance during the second Miami Grand Prix on Sunday at Hard Rock Stadium, home to the NFL’s Miami Dolphins.
Rapper and actor LL Cool J introduced F1 drivers like they were prizefighters before a big match.
Rapper and producer will.i.am conducted an orchestra of violin players who set the stage for the introductions.
SpaceX founder, Tesla CEO and Twitter owner Elon Musk, and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos – two of the richest men in the world – were in attendance during the Miami Grand Prix this weekend.
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The list of celebrities in attendance rivaled the Kentucky Derby, which occurred one day earlier in Louisville.
But it didn’t stop Patrick Mahomes, the two-time Super Bowl winning quarterback of the Kansas City Chiefs, from leaving the Derby for the Miami Grand Prix for the second straight year.
“I’m everywhere,” Mahomes told USA TODAY Sports before the race.
Actor Tom Cruise helped the Mercedes team in the pit area before the race.
Fast & Furious actor Vin Diesel entered the Mercedes garage quickly before the race, while rapper and co-star Ludacris also made his way through the Miami paddock.
Champion ski racer Lindsey Vonn returned for the second time to the Miami race, and said during an interview with Sky Sports she cannot wait to attend the Las Vegas race slated to debut in November.
J Balvin and Maluma, two of Latin music’s biggest stars, created a crowd while speaking to each other in the Miami paddock.
Hip Hop producer DJ Khaled also created a crowd while walking through the paddock with his family, and greeted some Miami Dolphins players before the race.
Rapper and actress Queen Latifah created a buzz during her walk into the paddock area.
Tennis icons Serena and Venus Williams, limited partners of the Miami Dolphins since 2009, returned to the race for the second straight year.
Retired tennis star Roger Federer was an early arriver to the Miami Grand Prix.
So was YouTuber-turned-prizefighter Jake Paul.
And even NBA Rookie of the Year Paolo Banchero, who was infamously mistaken for Mahomes during last year’s race, made his return.
Banchero and famous F1 commentator Martin Brundle even made right on their viral moment from a year ago.
“It’s been a helluva year, and I’m honored you know my name now, man,” Banchero said.
Miami Dolphins players Jaelan Phillips, Xavien Howard, Christian Wilkins, and Bradley Chubb posed for a photo with team owner Stephen Ross and CEO Tom Garfinkel – the orchestrators of the F1 Miami race – before Sunday’s festivities, while new Dolphins star defender Jalen Ramsey was an early arrival to the race.
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott and receiver Ceedee Lamb, rapper and producer Timbaland, rapper and producer Wyclef Jean, Toronto Raptors star Pascal Siakim, former NBA center Joakim Noah, British-American rapper IDK, race car driver Juan Pablo Montoya, tennis star Juan Martín del Potro and Snowfall actor Damson Idris were also among the celebrities in attendance for the Miami Grand Prix.