F1 seeking unprecedented 20-year Miami GP deal

Liberty Media is seeking an unprecedented 20-year deal to host the Miami Grand Prix, it has been revealed. The City Commission will vote next week whether to execute a deal that would initially run to October 2029, with an option of a further decade.

July 26th will be a pivotal date as Liberty looks to change to face of Formula 1, with Miami's City Commission needing a vote of four out of five commissioners to approve the contract.

Although city officials are thought to be keen to bring the sport to Miami, there has been widespread opposition from local residents, who are primed to take their local government to court over the plans.

Protestors will have the opportunity to air their grievances at the meeting, a legal notice confirmed.

It read: "The Miami City Commission requests all interested parties be present or represented at the meeting and may be heard with respect to any proposition before the City Commission in which the City Commission may take action."

Liberty had originally set a deadline of July 1 to have the deal signed off, and publishing details of the 2019 race calendar have been delayed due to the wait.

F1 has already confirmed that the race, if approved, will be scheduled in October 2019.

The deal not only includes a contract to run the grand prix, but also to host a fan festival at Bayfront Park. A similar F1 Live event will be staged in Miami ahead of the United States Grand Prix, in Austin, Texas later this year.

F1's managing director commercial operations Sean Bratches has said previously of the deal: "Formula 1 in Miami represents a fantastic opportunity to bring the greatest racing spectacle on the planet to one of the world’s most iconic cities, and we are delighted that the journey is underway."