The atmosphere is electric at the Hard Rock Stadium as the 2025 Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix unfolds this weekend. With a star-studded lineup and high-profile guests, the Palm Club, an ultra-luxe, invite-only space, is the place to be for networking among celebrities, athletes, and business moguls. F1 Miami spokesperson Melanie Cabassol revealed that the club is designed to foster connections between high-performing individuals, saying, "We curated this space intentionally, so that it was a space that brought the worlds of talent, celebrity, high-performing CEOs or ultra-high net worth clients together for the purpose of networking and to continue to build on those relationships."
Inside the Palm Club, elite guests might witness conversations between the likes of Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk, or see NFL stars Travis Kelce and Patrick Mahomes enjoying the thrilling race. Past attendees have included a roster of A-listers such as Michael Jordan, LeBron James, Tom Cruise, Shakira, Post Malone, and Ed Sheeran. Kelce, who is an investor in the F1 team Alpine, has been a frequent guest.
As the big race approaches on Sunday, May 4, 2025, the organizers remain tight-lipped about this year’s guest list, emphasizing the importance of privacy for their high-profile clientele. Cabassol explained, "It’s typically talent or guests’ plus one, so that really concentrates the clientele that we have in the space because you don’t have a million different people or entourage taking a look in." This exclusivity is a significant draw for the Palm Club, where even security and additional entourages are not permitted.
Guests arriving at the Palm Club are treated to a VIP experience from the moment they step foot on the grounds. They are driven to the club in a Moke vehicle to escape the Miami heat, and staff are trained to greet everyone by name, having studied their backgrounds in advance. Cabassol noted, "It’s very important, especially with this particular group. They get quite impressed when you know their whole backstory, how they got here, why they got here and everything else."
The entryway to the Palm Club is adorned with live plants, including three different endangered species of palms towering between 10 to 18 feet. Once inside, guests can enjoy a playlist curated by Dolphins CEO Tom Garfinkel, which features mostly old-school hip-hop. The indoor area, typically known as the Nine Club during football season, offers delectable dishes and drinks from Major Food Group’s ZZ’s Club and features a signature sweets bar. Cabassol humorously remarked, "It’s crazy to think that adults go crazy for candy."
In addition to the Palm Club, the 72 Club at the Hard Rock Stadium is also transformed for the Miami Grand Prix, offering tickets priced between $10,000 and $14,000. Guests can enjoy prime seating next to the winners’ podium while dining on gourmet food from the a’Riva at the Harbour Club pop-up and renowned restaurants like Komodo, Gekko, Casadonna, and Papi Steak.
The excitement surrounding the Miami Grand Prix is palpable, especially after last year’s event attracted the largest U.S. television audience for an F1 race, with 3.1 million viewers tuning in. This year, Formula One has solidified its commitment to the Miami Grand Prix by extending its agreement with the event organizers until 2041, a move hailed as a significant milestone by F1 president Stefano Domenicali. He stated, "Extending this agreement until 2041 is a strategic milestone of enormous importance, which strengthens our presence in America and consolidates the ever-deepening bond with our fan base there, which is constantly growing and passionate like never before."
Miami Grand Prix managing partner Tom Garfinkel echoed this sentiment, expressing that the extension is a huge vote of confidence from F1 in the event. "To have been granted this extension after only our third event speaks to what we have felt from the very beginning -– the Miami Grand Prix is here to stay," he said.
As the weekend progresses, the excitement is not just limited to the Palm Club and the 72 Club. The streets around Hard Rock Stadium are buzzing with fans, and with more than a quarter of a million people expected to attend various F1 events throughout the weekend, traffic adjustments are in place. Road closures are already affecting NW 199th Street and access ramps to the Florida Turnpike.
Fans have come from far and wide to witness the spectacle. Among them are Claire MacKea and Richard Priwton from the U.K., who shared their excitement after an unexpected encounter with F1 drivers George Russell and Kimi Antonelli. "Oh my gosh!" exclaimed MacKea, reflecting on their serendipitous meeting. When asked for his race predictions, Priwton confidently backed Lando Norris, noting, "Miami was huge for him last year."
However, not all experiences have been smooth sailing. On Friday evening, several fans found themselves stranded outside the stadium after their cars were towed from a nearby parking lot. Andres Escobar, who had traveled from Ecuador, recounted, "I came to this lot to park and a woman with a parking company logo on her shirt told us to pay [$60]." Many fans were left bewildered when they returned to find their vehicles missing, leading to confusion and frustration as they navigated the aftermath of the towing incident.
As the 2025 Miami Grand Prix unfolds, the combination of glitz, glamour, and high-octane racing is set to create an unforgettable experience for all involved. With the race scheduled to kick off at 4 p.m. local time on Sunday, fans, celebrities, and business leaders alike are gearing up for a day of excitement and spectacle.
