For a couple of races over one weekend, the time it takes to prepare and tear down from F1 seems very excessive. This is the third F1 event this year in the United States, the other two being in Miami and Austin. How does Las Vegas compare to Miami and Austin when it comes to race preparations?
We can dispense quickly with Austin, Texas, whose Circuit of the Americas (COTA) is a permanent facility, so preparations and tear down are minimal, focused more on event logistics like installing temporary seating and signage than building and removing the track itself. This makes Austin far less disruptive and cost-intensive for its race in mid-October.
Because Las Vegas and Miami (early May) host temporary street-style circuits, both require extensive annual construction and removal of barriers, grandstands, bridges, and safety features. However, Las Vegas, as we know only too well, is somewhat more complex than Miami, since it consists of transforming the Strip, one of the busiest tourist arteries in the world, into a racetrack. Preparations involve two–three months of setup and three–five weeks of teardown.
Miami's F1 track, the Miami International Autodrome, is located in Miami Gardens. It's a temporary street circuit built around the Hard Rock Stadium, home to the Miami Dolphins. The stadium complex includes the track, the Miami Open tennis venue, and other entertainment areas.
Our understanding is that Miami benefits from a stadium-adjacent layout with pre-paved sections, reducing build to temporary add-ons like fencing and chicanes. Prep is condensed around the May weekend. Post-race dismantle is rapid and the parking lots reopen almost immediately, making it less intrusive than full street races. It's praised for blending with NFL schedules at Hard Rock Stadium. Preparations take three-four weeks and tear down one to two.
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Kevin Lewis
Dec-17-2025
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