This past weekend, I had the amazing opportunity to attend the F1 Miami Grand Prix, and man, it was a blast. A hot, sweaty, and sticky blast! This year, the Grand Prix was highly anticipated, not only by the fans but also by the drivers and teams themselves. As a result of the war with Iran, the Bahrain and Saudi Arabia races were canceled, leaving a 5-week gap in the season. This gap, although disappointing, allowed the FIA to revisit some regulations and for the teams to make upgrades to their cars. Upgrades to be showcased during the races in Miami. On top of that, extreme heat and storms were projected for the weekend. All this to say, this was going to be a race weekend to remember, which means being well-dressed and prepared was a must!
Formula 1 is known for not only being an event where talent and technology are on display, but fashion as well, so how do you balance style and functionality when all you see online is influencers with Paddock passes? Well, I am here to tell you that style and functionality aren’t mutually exclusive. But if your goal is to roll out some wannabe WAG vibes, you’re going to either need to shell out the money for club/paddock tickets or you are going to be very, very uncomfortable. So I’m going to talk about still being cute while toughing it out in the unshaded grandstands. Because weather is the ruler of all decisions for these seats, I have one phrase that led my style choices.
“Mercedes coded everything.”
Now Mercedes and George Russell are my favorite team and driver. However, by choosing a team, it gave me a color scheme to work with which is essential when putting together any “coded” style.
Day 1: Sprint Race Qualifying
Location: Turn 1 Grandstands and AMEX Trackside Lounge
With Day 1 being the least hot day (coming in at a nice, brisk 88 degrees), I was able to be slightly less functional and more focused on the fit. To start with, I decided to sport a loose fan tee with my favorite driver and I chose jean shorts. While the shorts certainly weren’t comfortable after being in the sun for hours, they were exactly the item I needed for the look I was going for that day.
Day 2: Sprint Race and Qualifying
Location: Marina and Hard Rock Stadium
Now I have to say, I think that my outfit for day two was my favorite! On this day, it was 94 degrees and sunny, and this outfit was so comfortable and so Mercedes. So what am I wearing? First, I have a Mercedes dry-fit jersey paired with a navy blue tennis skirt and sky blue hat, both from Lululemon. In my opinion, these core items receive a 100/10 for moisture wicking. I cannot stress how sweaty and sticky I was, and while the sunscreen I used left a residue on the skirt (that tends to happen with thicker sunscreens), I did not feel as though my clothes were sticking to me. For footwear, I chose to wear my classic Puma sneakers, and for accessories, a clear shoulder bag from Target, a charm bracelet I made myself, my Apple Watch (you gotta track those steps!), and sunglasses which are from Lacoste.
Day 3: RACE DAY
Location: Turn 18 Grandstands and Start/Finish Grandstands
For the final day, weather ruled again, and ultimately I went for functionality with a bit of Mercedes team spirit. While it was a bit cooler (80 degrees), it was supposed to storm. So I was prepared to get wet. That said, I went with an athletic dress that I thrifted, my Lulu hat, and Chacos. Yes, I chose to wear sandals, which is not a choice I make often at an outdoor event such as this. However, my biggest pet peeve is having wet feet, but what’s even worse is having damp feet in shoes, and this was a choice I would 100% make again! Not only did it save me from my own ick, but it also saved my white Pumas. Not pictured is my North Face rain jacket.
Main Takeaways and Tips!
Stay away from heavy fabrics such as jeans or leather and opt for linen, cotton, silk and athletic fabrics such as lycra, polyester, and nylon.
Accept now that weather needs to be the biggest consideration when planning your outfits.
Look for sponsored brands. Mixing in items from those sponsored brands are often functional and they will elevate any outfit. Suggested brands include Puma, Adidas, Tommy Hilfiger, and TAG Heuer
Don’t underestimate the underwear. What you wear under your outfit is just as important when it comes to comfort. For me, I chose seamless underwear and socks from Lululemon. But if you happen to have a bra that’s great for moisture wicking, I am taking suggestions haha.
Wear shoes that you can comfortably rack up the miles in. I took approx 40,000 steps over the course of the weekend, so now is not the time to break in a new shoe.
Chose a color scheme for the weekend so that you can mix and match items and keep up with weather changes
Don’t be afraid to get creative with friendship or charm bracelets/necklaces. I made my own charm bracelet and I also got a friendship bracelet from a group of girls who had a bunch to hand out Taylor Swift style.
What Was in My Bag?
MINI HANDHELD FAN -YOU NEED THIS
Extra sunscreen
Wallet
Meds (allergy, ibuprofen, dietary supplements … etc)
Aloe pouch
Lense cleaning cloth
Nail file
Candy
Want more info on the specific items I used? Check the links below (this is not a sponsored post)
A New Day Clear Bag - No long available but you can find something similar here!
Overall with this being my first Grand Prix, there were certainly things I’d change, but also things I did really well to prepare and I can’t wait to attend another one again in the future!
