Drivers and team principals wave to the crowd at the Miami Grand Prix opening ceremony
An opening ceremony took place to welcome drivers and team bosses to Miami

The Formula 1 event has arrived in Miami.

The grand prix will be held in the Hard Rock Stadium complex, home to the Miami Dolphins, and is set to be the biggest and boldest event the sport has ever seen.

American fans were treated to a Super Bowl-style spectacle as the opening ceremony took place on the enormous podium, featuring drivers and team principals.

The addition of an artificial marina, complete with fake water, around a section of the 5.412 km circuit that has fans talking is the latest addition to the showmanship that the organizers have laid on.

Will racing in Florida live up to the hype? The show takes a look at what is in store.

A track where you can 'walk on water'

When asked where they would like to see Formula 1 go next, Lewis Hamilton said Miami.

Five years later, Hamilton has been granted his wish.

The popularity of Drive to Survive has opened up a new generation of fans to the sport, and F1's owners have been keen to tap into the vast potential of the US market. The grand prix in Austin, Texas, and a night race against the backdrop of the Las Vegas strip will be added to the calendar.

The event has had some teething problems. The Miami International Autodrome went through 36 different layouts before developers decided on a street circuit feel with 19 corners, three straights and scope for three DRS zones.

The temporary track is located in the Miami Gardens campus of two-time Super Bowl winners the Miami Dolphins. The Foro Sol section of the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez is an homage to the Mexico City Grand Prix.

There is also the "marina".

Fans take pictures in the fake marina at the Miami Grand Prix
Fancy a dip? Fans have flocked to take a picture with the yachts in the fake marina

When the original idea to have cars whiz around downtown Miami and the real marina were met by opposition from local residents, some decided they would give F1 bosses their Monaco-inspired camera shots of luxurious yachts in any way possible.

Since pictures of the marina were released, social media has been awash with jokes about the moored boats and the wooden platform. Many see it as a budget version of Monte Carlo, while others feel the forced spectacle of Miami takes the sport away from its traditional roots.

Fans who don't like the beach club experience can watch the grand prix from above the action.

The first of its kind, a gondola lift will be running during the 57-lap race which will allow supporters to not only take in an aerial view of proceedings, but also give a unique perspective thanks to the glass bottoms of the cable cars.

F1 goes big on American PR push

The Formula 1 drivers have been in the United States this week to promote the brand.

Mercedes may be under pressure to deliver in South Florida after a disappointing start to the season, but that hasn't stopped Hamilton playing golf with seven-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady or making an appearance on the popular ABC show Good Morning America.

I have been coming out here for a long, long time but I never understood why people weren't interested in Formula 1.

For world champion Max Verstappen, Red Bull team-mate Sergio Perez and title leader Charles Leclerc, a trip to the Miami Marlins baseball team to try their hand at pitching was in order, while Pierre Gasly had dinner with Michael Jordan.

This weekend's race throws up an unknown challenge for teams to face after the old-school test of Imola in April.

Verstappen has moved up to second in the championship after Leclerc's sixth-place finish because of an error allowed him to overtake him.

At the United States Grand Prix in Texas, Verstappen has one win and two podium places, while Leclerc has never finished higher than fourth.

At the inaugural event on Sunday, Hamilton can only hope for a Silver Arrows revival. Wolff apologized to the seven-time world champion after another poor performance left him stranded in 13th place.

Mercedes hopes to bring upgraded cars to Miami that will solve the car problems that have afflicted them this year.

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