Formula One returns this weekend following a five-week hiatus after a pair of races in the Middle East were called off because of the war in Iran, and A-listers were not skipping the blockbuster event in Miami. The Grand Prix, one of three held in the United States, has long been a celebrity hotspot, with stars flocking to the race for the past four years. This year proved to be no different.
Celebrity Presence at Miami Grand Prix
Famous faces were already descending on Miami Gardens for the first day of practice on Friday, two days before the race gets underway on Sunday. The biggest names in entertainment and sport have flocked to the paddock at Hard Rock Stadium to catch a glimpse of the world's best zipping around the track. Tennis legend Serena Williams led the way, arriving at the Ferrari hospitality area on Friday morning. The 23-time Grand Slam winner showed off her toned, defined arms, opting to keep it casual in a cream linen vest and matching pants. She looked effortlessly elegant with her platinum tresses flowing loose and added a touch of glamour with a Van Cleef & Arpels Alhambra necklace around her neck.
The mother-of-two, who stepped away from tennis following the 2022 US Open, has long been close friends with Ferrari racer Lewis Hamilton. The pair have both publicly expressed support and admiration for one another, with Williams even once going as far as to claim that the British driver should have nine titles, rather than the seven he currently boasts. Williams, who has teased a return to the court over the past year, has frequently graced the Miami Grand Prix in previous years to cheer on her racing pal.
Hamilton's Girlfriend Absent
Hamilton and his rivals took to the track in the early afternoon for the first practice session before the sprint qualifying was set to take place at 4:30pm ET on Friday. However, while his close friend was on hand, Hamilton's girlfriend, Kim Kardashian, was nowhere to be seen. It remains to be seen whether the reality TV star will be supporting her F1 beau from the paddock this weekend, given she is expected to be in New York on Monday for the Met Gala. The stars, who have been friends for over a decade, have been going strong for nearly five months after they were first spotted getting cosy on New Year's Eve in Aspen. They went public with their romance at the Super Bowl in February and then subsequently went Instagram official. They were first rumoured to be dating in early February when they were seen on what appeared to be a romantic weekend trip in Europe. They were spotted in the Cotswolds and later travelled from the UK to Paris. That same month, they made a public appearance together and were spotted sitting together in the same VIP booth at the Super Bowl. In early March, they enjoyed a luxurious trip together in Utah, and at the end of the month, the pair travelled to Tokyo alongside Kardashian's kids.
Jimmy Fallon at the Paddock
Meanwhile, late-night show host Jimmy Fallon was spotted beaming as he strolled through the paddock on Friday. Fallon was captured visiting the Red Bull garage, which boasts four-time world champion Max Verstappen and newcomer Isack Hadjar. The comedian even appeared to be prepared to take a lap around the track as he clutched two helmets under his arms, before later inspecting one of the cars.
Weather Threat for Race Day
This weekend's action currently faces the threat of heavy rain on Sunday, and the forecast is so unpleasant that it dominated conversation three days before the race. The National Weather Service is calling for thunderstorms for all of South Florida throughout Sunday, while AccuWeather is showing a 55 percent chance of thunderstorms on race day. It could disrupt the event because conditions must be stable enough for a medical helicopter to be able to fly when cars are racing, plus the NWS recommends seeking shelter if the delay between thunder and lightning is shorter than 30 seconds. The NWS recommends waiting at least 30 minutes before leaving shelter and cited Florida as the state that 'specifically leads the U.S. in lightning deaths, injuries, and casualties.' The weather service also says lightning is Florida's number one 'weather killer.'
