A new pre-race driver introduction ceremony will take place for the first time ahead of this weekend’s Miami Grand Prix.
Formula 1 previously experimented with a presentation of this kind at the United States Grand Prix in 2017. However RaceFans understands a different ceremony is planned for this weekend’s Miami Grand Prix.
Last week the FIA World Motor Sport Council approved changes to the F1 sporting regulations to allow more time for drivers to assemble on the grid prior to the start of the race. The pre-race grid procedure now begins 50 minutes before the start of the formation lap instead of 40 minutes ahead.
“At certain races, this additional time will be used for the presentation of the drivers to the fans,” the FIA noted.
Sunday’s Miami Grand Prix is due to begin at 3:30pm local time. The driver introduction and national anthem observance will take place at 3:08pm.
F1 never repeated the driver introduction ceremony it introduced at the Circuit of the Americas in 2017, the first year after Liberty Media took over the series.
Famed boxing announcer Michael Buffer was enlisted to announce each of the 20 drivers in turn as they walked to the grid, while performers in race suits appeared on the pit building behind them. Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel, who led the points standings going into the race and qualified on the front row of the grid, stood opposite each other in front of the drivers’ championship trophy.
This weekend’s race will be the second to take place at the Miami International Autodrome and is the first of three American rounds on the 2023 F1 calendar. Further details of the new-look driver introduction ceremony will be confirmed in the run-up to Sunday’s race.
Advert | Become a RaceFans supporter and
2023 Miami Grand Prix
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at RaceFans…