Fine-Tuning the Experience: Returning to the 2025 Miami Grand Prix with a Toddler

By our third year attending the Miami Grand Prix with a child, we’ve learned one key lesson: if something works, keep it consistent. In 2025, we returned with our two-year-old and, by keeping many elements of our previous trips the same, we were able to focus more on enjoying the experience — and even made a few upgrades that enhanced the overall race weekend.

Here’s how we approached the weekend with intention, flexibility, and a deeper appreciation for what works best when attending a Formula 1 race with young children.

Hospitality: Back to Turn 18 Suites — With a Few Adjustments

We returned to the Turn 18 Suites inside the MIA Hospitality Village, which offered the same open-air access, indoor cooling, and a family-friendly space we appreciated the year prior. For anyone traveling with kids, it’s hard to beat the MIA Hospitality area — plenty of room to sit, walk, decompress, and recharge.

Most of the food offerings and merchandise layout remained the same, with one notable change:

• LEGO became a new sponsor, bringing a larger footprint with branded products and interactive areas.

• A corporate group rented out a portion of the floor, removing one merchandise booth — but this did not affect seating or comfort for general attendees in hospitality.

The open air-conditioned space once again served as the perfect place for our two-year-old to stretch, snack, and rest in between events.

Seating Changes: From Suite to Grandstand for Better Race Views

One major change we made this year was opting for the highest row of covered grandstand seating, instead of watching from within the suite. While the suite offers unmatched convenience and food service, we found that the elevated view from the grandstand gave us a much better look at Turns 18, 19, and 20.

By sitting in the top row of the grandstand near Turn 18, we were able to see both the entry and exit of the corner, something we couldn’t fully view from inside the suite. It was a small tradeoff — less food, more race visibility — and for us, a worthy one.

This seating also let us stay close to MIA Hospitality, where we could retreat between sessions or after a long stint in the heat. It created the perfect blend of immersive viewing and comfort.

Transportation: Why We Drove This Year (and How to Do It Right)

This year, we skipped the shuttles and chose to drive ourselves — and we were glad we did. With a toddler, being able to control our timing and route made a huge difference.

Here’s how to make it work:

• Park in Lot 31 – This lot is adjacent to the hospitality entrance, making it incredibly easy to walk in without hassle. It’s a paid, low-traffic lot with minimal crowding and easy stroller access.

• Avoid Lot 30 at all costs – It sits along the canal and requires a long, disjointed walk that’s especially difficult with children.

• Arrive when parking opens (8–9am) – The official gate opening times change every year, so check the F1 schedule beforehand, but arriving early makes parking, security, and stroller setup smooth and stress-free.

• Use back roads to exit – From Lot 31, we were able to bypass major closures and get directly to the highway after the race, skipping nearly all of the main traffic gridlock.

Race Weekend Strategy: Know When to Stay and When to Leave

With a two-year-old, energy is limited — and so is patience in 90° Miami heat. Over the years, we’ve learned that Saturday is the best all-around race day for families:

• Sprint Race + Qualifying = full day of high-stakes, high-energy track time

• The vibe is electric, but the pressure to stay through an entire race is lifted

• You get the excitement of race-level adrenaline without the Sunday crowd surge

As for race day (Sunday) — we recommend either leaving mid-race or skipping altogether. Once you’ve seen the start and experienced the grid atmosphere, the tradeoff in traffic and exhaustion often outweighs the last few laps.

The earlier you leave, the easier your exit — and the happier your toddler.

Final Thoughts: Returning Gets Better With Experience

The 2025 Miami Grand Prix proved that routine can be your best ally when traveling with kids. By keeping our hotel, hospitality, and general structure similar to past years, we reduced the friction and made room for small upgrades that improved the entire experience.

What worked for us this year:

• MIA Hospitality Village for indoor breaks, snacks, and space to move

• Top-row grandstand seating for improved views of Turns 18–20

• Lot 31 parking for direct access and easy exit

• Early arrival and early exits to avoid crowds and chaos

As our daughter gets older, we’re discovering new ways to enjoy race weekends as a family — and Miami continues to offer one of the best combinations of world-class racing and family-friendly logistics.

We’ll be back again next year, and the year after that. With the right balance of comfort, access, and flexibility, Formula 1 doesn’t have to be a compromise when you’re traveling with kids — it can be an upgrade.