Seven-time World Champion Lewis Hamilton is seemingly loving being back in Miami this weekend, for the second running of the Miami Grand Prix.
The 38-year-old heads to the Miami International Autodrome having been busy for the vast majority of the week, with the Mercedes driver having taken part in an IWC sponsored event.
Hamilton was seen playing ball with several celebrities at the luxury watch company’s event, whilst he’s already been interacting with the stars since arriving in the paddock.
Formula 1 being in Miami this weekend is set to attract several of the biggest celebrities in the United States, with the race being situated at the Hard Rock stadium.
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Most, if not all of them will likely attempt to meet Hamilton, given that he is perhaps the most popular driver on the grid as it stands across the pond.
The 103-time race winner has already been spotted with rapper A$AP Rocky ahead of the action, in what certainly won’t be his last meeting with a celeb when not in the car.
Miami is, of course, the first of three races in the United States this season, with races in Texas and Las Vegas coming towards the end of the 2023 season.
It means there is an extra buzz of excitement around Miami given that it’s kicking-off the first American F1 race of the year, with Hamilton recognising how big it is for the pinnacle of motorsport to be where it is this weekend.
“It is a dream for us to be in Miami and in the United States,” Hamilton said ahead of the weekend, as reported by the Mirror.co.uk.
“They have the Miami Heat and the Miami Dolphins, too. They are massive sporting fans here so to be in such an important city like Miami where sport is huge – and now Formula 1 is part of that. It is great to see.
“For such a huge country, it is amazing that we finally have three races here. The difficult thing with Formula 1 is that you usually visit a country once a year. But the growth has been huge and it is such a big market for the sport.”
He’ll be hoping to finish higher than he did last season at the inaugural race, with the Stevenage-born driver having claimed sixth.
A podium likely won’t be on the cards for Hamilton given the nature of the track, which boasts two high-speed sections.
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Red Bull are expected to be unbeatable once again whilst Ferrari should also go well, meaning it could be a real struggle for the British driver to even finish in the top five.
“I just want to get back to the front,” Hamilton admitted.
“That is what I am working on – trying to get this team back to the front.”