The FIA has revealed the first details of how Formula 1’s new pre-race driver introductions will be arranged.
New regulations were passed ahead of the previous race in Azerbaijan allowing more time for the pre-race grid activities which would be “used for the presentation of the drivers to the fans” at certain events, the FIA said at the time.The new pre-race ceremony will take place for the first time ahead of today’s Miami Grand Prix. Drivers will be introduced in turn from 3:07pm local time and walk to specified places at the front of the starting grid.
All 20 drivers will take up their positions in groups of four over a period of five minutes. This will be followed by the performance of the national anthem of the United States of America, introduced by LL Cool J.
The FIA noted drivers who do not comply with the new procedure “will be reported to the stewards”.
Formula 1 previously held a pre-race driver introduction ceremony at the Circuit of the Americas ahead of the United States Grand Prix in 2017. That format has not been used again since.
Order of drivers’ appearances
3:07pm: Logan Sargeant, Nyck de Vries, Kevin Magnussen, Alexander Albon
3:08pm: Yuki Tsunoda, Zhou Guanyu, Pierre Gasly, Esteban Ocon
3:09pm: Valtteri Bottas,Oscar Piastri, Nico Hulkenberg, Lando Norris
3:10pm: Lance Stroll, George Russell, Charles Leclerc, Carlos Sainz Jnr
3:11pm: Lewis Hamilton, Fernando Alonso, Sergio Perez, Max Verstappen
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Patrick (@anunaki)
7th May 2023, 13:11
LL is from New York, they could’ve taken the 2 Live Crew
baasbas
7th May 2023, 13:17
That is exciting news, I’m thrilled
DB-C90 (@dbradock)
7th May 2023, 13:28
Can you imagine how this would have gone down with Kimi?
No doubt the survey results have already been collated so they can announce the overwhelming success of this.
Dex
7th May 2023, 13:48
LL Cool what? Huh I can’t identify with this event in any possible way it seems. I don’t watch this part of the broadcast anyway, and it’s fine (maybe I’m missing something great, I really have no idea who or what that is, I could only google it up). I hope it’s good enough to make having this Miami GP on this track worth it. So far it’s the cringiest F1 event for me, but I have faith in Vegas…
I can’t wait for Imola, for Spa, Silverstone or Suzuka, Brazil… For F1 I remember, if only in traces. I think those from FIA and Liberty will feel more like me once this new audience loses it’s interest, when something new shows up on Netflix and Tick Tock or whatever it’s called. Drive to survive is already a few seasons old, the characters are mostly the same, so is the topic. It can’t go on successfully forever.
Hosford90
7th May 2023, 19:15
Are you 90 years old?
Like I get Liberty is doing a bunch of dumb stuff and I dislike sprints and a lot of the other gimmicks as much as the next guy but LL Cool J is a music legend who has been active and famous for like 30 years. You’re doing your ‘kids these days’ thing about a 90s artist lol. That’s not ‘I’m slightly out of touch with current hip trends’, thats ‘I live under an actual rock’.
As an early 30s (not young but not old, watching since mid 90s) progressive person, who both sees through Liberty and FIA cynicism and has massive issues with the over-commercialisation of our sport…but also isn’t a gross old conservative white man like half the commenters increasingly seem to be here, you don’t sound like a ‘defender of the sport’ you sound like the most cliche ‘old man yells at cloud’ I’ve ever seen. There’s a subtle but very profound difference in character between ‘I am a student of history/love good old fashioned sport and traditions’ and ‘hahaha young people’ and it’s the difference between being a decent person and not.
Sergey Martyn
8th May 2023, 14:04
“…but LL Cool J is a music legend…”
May I inquire -among whom?…
Rascasse
7th May 2023, 13:49
Introduced by who?
Hosford90
7th May 2023, 19:15
Literal music legend LL Cool J. He’s been famous for nearly 30 years.
Skett
7th May 2023, 21:54
No mate, he was famous 30 years ago. Bit of a difference
EffWunFan (@cairnsfella)
8th May 2023, 0:37
@Hosford90
Not sure why you feel there is a compulsory demographic overlap between F1 fans and 80’s rap.
Whilst I do indeed know (a small amount of) LL Cool J’s music, I really know him more for NCIS nowadays. That said, and despite quite liking the guy, I do hate the Americanization of the sport and find things such as this more than a little cringeworthy.
I (believe I) can see why they are doing it.
I really wish they wouldn’t.
Hazel Southwell (@hazelsouthwell)
7th May 2023, 14:06
I know he’s not Busta Rhymes but I don’t see why it would take 15 seconds to introduce a driver unless some truly mindboggling staging is getting planned here. Already feel nervous for the secondhand cringe,
Electroball76
7th May 2023, 14:23
Here to sing his hit song “Welcome to Miami”, please welcome Mr. Ello Cool Aid!
Wait! What? Will Smith? Ah dangit!
Will Wood (@willwood)
7th May 2023, 14:36
If Verstappen wins the race, just don’t call it a comeback.
Proesterchen (@proesterchen)
7th May 2023, 14:52
Carting to the youths, I see.
Hosford90
7th May 2023, 19:17
Yes, 15 year old kids love listening to a 55 year old man whose hits were 10 years before they were born.
Jesus christ…typically quality take from the legend himself Proesterchen.
PeterG
7th May 2023, 15:16
I’ll just be tuning in at the 5 minute sting then to avoid all the awful Liberty/US cringe.
t1redmonkey (@t1redmonkey)
7th May 2023, 16:00
Same here, hate all the pre-race stuff Sky do. This additional stuff Liberty are chucking in are just going to make me want to tune in closer and closer to lights out!
Velocityboy (@velocityboy)
7th May 2023, 15:52
I saw driver introductions prior to a NASCAR race once and it was truly cringeworthy. One more thing for an old fart like me to not watch.
Bob C
7th May 2023, 16:31
Well, when in Rome…
Only, do we really HAVE to be in Rome then?
MichaelN
7th May 2023, 17:32
The subtle snark in the final sentence is a proper response to this. Well done!
But hey, if the Americans love it, fair play. It’s their race.
sam
7th May 2023, 17:34
how embarrassing
Denis (@denis1304)
7th May 2023, 17:45
“at certain events”? They meant to say in US events?
Will this be televised, so I can avoid it? 🤮
Sparky (@sfrank15)
7th May 2023, 18:58
I hope it isn’t like the 2017 introduction at COTA. They had boxing ringmaster Michael Buffer. What a joke Liberty keeps turning F1 into. Just like the two new races in the USA. Nothing to do with racing. Half the USA won’t even see the Las Vegas race. Just lining their pockets with money till the novelty wears off.