When the F1 schedule comes out, I always go and circle the F1 Miami GP as my priority for the year. Of course I would love to travel and photograph many other F1 races, but for now I have to settle for the F1 Miami GP and I’m so appreciative I got to experience it again this year. I’ve been fortunate to witness Lando’s first win and now photograph Kimi Antonelli’s third win in a row from pole. And with Formula 1 being on hiatus for several weeks due to the Middle East conflict, all eyes were on Miami as F1 made it’s return.
The F1 Miami GP felt different from years past. Maybe it was the new rule changes the FIA implemented because drivers and fans were complaining about the racing. Could have been the two missed races and the long gap in between. There was more media there than I could remember.
Media Day
The best way to learn is from experience and last year shooting Media Day gave me some insight how I wanted to tackle it this year. The F1 communications department is one of the best as they’re always on top of disseminating information to us. I knew which drivers were giving interviews and where. Knowing that helped me set up my day and how I was going to move. For instance I knew Lewis Hamilton was going to be in the media pen, but afterwards he was heading back to the hospitality suites back in the Paddock so I stayed in the hallway tunnel to catch him on his scooter heading back.
While Media Day isn’t as eventful as race day, it gives us photographers a chance to get some up close photos of the drivers and team principals.
F1 Free Practice and Sprint Qualifying
For another year in a row I worked the F1 Miami GP with the same handful of photographers from the Miami Herald, USA Today and Icon Wire. We all sat together and planned how we would move to capture the day. This year with the free practice being 90 minutes instead of the normal 60 due to teams working on the new F1 rules and packages, we had more time to move about. My thought process for shooting the free practice is to get images of every driver and then get some slow pans as well. We would stay at a turn or location for about 10-15 minutes and then walk to the next spot. We did this for about an hour and we covered about 4-5 turns which gave us plenty of images.
Sprint qualifying was the same thought process. We headed out to the chicanes out by Turn 13 and 14 to capture images there. This is a very popular spot for F1 photographers as it gives us up close action of the cars. For certain photo holes we had to wait our turn to photograph the cars. While waiting I found a spot where the cars would turn inches from me. I took out my 24-70 and realized it could fit in between the fence opening so I was able to grab the cars turning right into me. By far some of my favorite photos of the weekend.
Miami GP Sprint Race
I’m not a big fan of Sprint races. I rather have two extra practice sessions. Again working with others, we came up with a plan to cover the race. Since the Sprint race was only 19 laps, we didn’t have a lot of time to move around. The goal was to head to Turn 1 get some action and head back to the Start/Finish line to capture the trophy presentation. While in theory we had a sound plan in place, it proved to be all for naught.
Years past the Sprint race trophy presentation was on the track at the Start/Finish line. So we headed there like in years past with other photographers who had the same idea. Unfortunately for us, there was a fatal flaw in our logic. This year the trophy presentation for the Sprint winner was in the Parc ferme. We completely missed it and the fireworks that went off as well. While disappointed, there was nothing we could do.
Miami GP Qualifying
For qualifying we wanted to shoot some of it and then move down to the FIA garage so we could get the pole winner exiting their car. For the first two rounds we stayed out by the final turns of 17 and 18 and then walked back to the garage area and waited to be let onto the Parc ferme.
Now once they drop the rope to let the photographers out, its a mad scramble to get into the best position. And often no one knows what the best position is because it’s a crap shoot. Most try to be in the middle when the pole sitter gets out of their car, but I always try to be either on the right or left of the middle. This year I was on the left side and my reason for doing so is because the broadcast cameras always stand in the middle and I would get blocked.
This year is worked out for me as Kimi Antonelli, the pole winner, got out of his car and was right in front of me. I couldn’t ask for a better shot as he was pumping and raising his fists right in front of me. Sometimes you win and sometimes you lose. I won that day.
Race Day
With thunderstorms forecasted for the initial start time, FIA moved the race up by three hours. When I arrived to the track it was thundering and pouring out. I thought the race would be delayed, but as it got closer to race time the skies ceased with the turbulent weather. The forecast remained bleak and honestly I thought the race was going to be a wash out.
Normally the drivers take a lap around the track in a truck waving to the fans in the stands prior to the race. Last year was the Lego race which is still talked about as the best drivers parade ever, but for this year they had each team of drivers walk out to the Parc ferme to do broadcast interviews. It gave me a great opportunity to shoot the drivers just mere feet from me.
I was expecting torrential rain and I planned for such an event. I was only going out with one camera and my 200-400 lens. I would normally be in the Parc ferme for when the winning driver got out, but this year I scrapped that plan so I could be in place for the podium celebration in case the race was cut short.
I started out as I normally do at Turn 1 and I worked and walked my way down to podium stand. The rain held off, but the heat and humidity didn’t. The track was a sauna and having all my rain gear with me didn’t make it any cooler. I probably lost a good amount of water weight just sweating it was so hot out.
Photo wise I was happy with the result. I was able to get photos of all the drivers and as the race progressed and I was working my way down I focused on who I though the top 5 drivers would be. At that point it was Charles Leclerc, Lando Norris, Kimi Antonelli, Oscar Piastri and Max Verstappen. Of course I took a copious amount of photos of my favorite driver, Lewis Hamilton, as I do every year.
The rain held off and Kimi Antonelli held off Lando Norris to win the F1 Miami GP as well as his third race in a row won from the pole position.
All in all, I had a great F1 Miami GP experience. Of course there are always I wish I could have gotten this shot or did this strategy better, but it’s always a learning experience. Every F1 race is different and situations change all the time. I know I did the best with what I knew at the time.
Until next year for me unless I get a sponsor for the F1 races in Austin or Vegas. Hell, I’ll even go to Mexico. I love photographing Formula 1 races.
For additional photos and video from the Miami GP, check out my F1 Racing page or follow me on Instagram!
