'Excellent' chance that Miami will feature in 2022

Formula 1 remains on course to hit the Miami streets in 2022 on a layout based around the Hard Rock Stadium.

Tavo Hellmund, the promoter behind the deals to bring Formula 1 to the Circuit of the Americas and back to Mexico City, has said that the amount of "clout" carried by the owner of the Hard Rock Stadium, Stephen Ross, will help to keep plans on track.

“Chances are excellent that we’ll see an F1 race in Miami in 2022,” Hellmund told Autoweek.

“It’s always a question of making the numbers work, but with the clout Stephen Ross carries in the Miami area, his support will definitely work in the race’s favour.”

Bringing Formula 1 to Miami has turned out to more difficult than initially expected. Various track layouts have been proposed, but opposition from locals have seen protests and public hearings.

“It’s Formula 1 racing in a bedroom community,” argued former county commissioner Betty T Ferguson in October. “The majority of residents in Miami Gardens do not want to see F1 racing at Hard Rock Stadium; the Miami Gardens city council voted to oppose Formula 1.

“We have seen too often deep pockets paint rosy pictures and have their way, only to the embarrassment of the county at a later date. Don’t allow F1 promoters to come in and roll over us over, like we’re not even humans.

“They can produce all kinds of phony statements about how they can mitigate the deadly effects, but we can never erase deadly health damage, and possibly permanent hearing loss, especially to children. Even the county’s own study verifies the deadly effects.

“No permission for road closure or special events should be given to the Dolphins without full public hearing.”

It is unclear whether public attitudes have shifted towards the hosting of a grand prix event in recent weeks, but soon this statement was released, Mayor Carlos A Gimenez granted more time for a solution to the problems to be found.

One man who remains confident that the event will be added to the 2022 Formula 1 calendar is two-time champion Emerson Fittipaldi, who told Autoweek, “For sure it will happen, two years from now."

READ MORE:Liberty Media: The 'remote possibility of no racing' remains

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