Autosport Business Exchange Miami Brings Industry Leaders

Miami, Fla. — May 1, 2026 — Serving as a defining moment within race week at the FORMULA 1 CRYPTO.COM MIAMI GRAND PRIX, the Autosport Business Exchange – a Motorsport Network event – convened senior leaders from across Formula 1, global business, technology, and sport this morning for a series of high-level strategic discussions at Hard Rock Stadium.

Marking the first official collaboration between Autosport Business Exchange (ABX) and a Formula 1 Grand Prix, this high-profile Miami edition brought together a powerhouse lineup of industry figures directly into the heart of the paddock, reflecting F1’s growing influence at the intersection of competition, culture, and commerce.

The invite-only forum was opened on Friday by Stephen M. Ross, Managing General Partner of the Miami Dolphins, Hard Rock Stadium, and the FORMULA 1 CRYPTO.COM MIAMI GRAND PRIX, setting the tone for a morning focused on leadership, innovation, and the evolving business of racing under the theme “The Launch Pad.”

A headline moment of the program featured Zak Brown, CEO of McLaren Racing, who joined Formula 1 presenter Lawrence Barretto for an in-depth conversation on the sport’s commercial momentum and the opportunities presented by F1’s expanding global audience.

In a frank and candid discussion, Brown also reflected on his career and his role in building a World Championship-winning team.

“I’m often asked if it’s similar being a CEO to a racing driver. I think it’s almost identical,” said Brown. “You need good people around you, teamwork and technology is also crucial. You need to be a strong communicator and leader, but also a good listener. You need to understand risk versus reward, be data-driven, insight-driven, but also instinct-driven, and always strive for perfection.”

Following remarks from Werner Brell, CEO of Motorsport Network, and Katharina Nowak, President of the FORMULA 1 CRYPTO.COM MIAMI GRAND PRIX, the focus turned to the future direction of the sport in a featured session titled “Fine-Tuning the Future of F1.”

Bringing together Stefano Domenicali, CEO and President of Formula 1, Eddy Cue, Apple’s SVP of Services, and Tom Garfinkel, Managing Partner of the FORMULA 1 CRYPTO.COM MIAMI GRAND PRIX, the discussion explored how media, technology, fan engagement, and commercial strategy are converging to define motorsport’s next era. Moderated by Joe Pompliano, founder of Huddle Up, the session took place within Hard Rock Stadium, the centrepiece of the Miami International Autodrome.

Across the program, speakers examined how Formula 1’s rapid growth—particularly in the United States—is being driven by innovation, strategic investment, and cultural relevance, with Miami positioned as a key platform for that expansion.

“We are very excited to be here — it’s a fantastic place,” said Domenicali. “The attention in this incredible city reflects a mindset of thinking big. Initiatives like this show that Formula 1 is not just a sport, it is something even bigger.

“We have three races in the U.S. with very high attendance, and the growth in passion for Formula 1 here has been phenomenal. This market represents a major opportunity, and we will continue to invest and build with our partners and promoters.”

As an example of that investment, Tom Garfinkel revealed plans to significantly expand the Miami Grand Prix’s Paddock Club for 2027, including a new 115,000-square-foot extension that will elevate its premium hospitality offering. The development will connect the current pit building to Turn 1, and increase total capacity across three floors to 9,200 guests.

“It’s incredibly exciting and humbling to be here for our fifth year,” said Garfinkel. “That original vision was only possible because of Stephen Ross and his willingness to invest in big ideas. Across the stadium, circuit, and future developments, we’re looking at approximately $1 billion of private investment.

“That level of commitment allows us to innovate. We wanted to not only make the Paddock Club bigger to meet demand, but differentiate the experience into something new and unique. Additionally, the Miami Grand Prix has grown beyond what we originally imagined, not just in scale, but in its cultural and commercial impact, and in what it delivers for South Florida and the local community.”

Following the success of the Apple-funded F1 movie, 2026 marks the first year of Apple’s exclusive streaming rights for the sport in the United States. Domenicali highlighted a 26% year-on-year increase in U.S. viewership, with significant viewership among younger and female audiences, according to Eddy Cue of Apple.

“Formula 1 is not just about racing, it’s about the technology behind it,” said Cue. “It’s the most technologically advanced sport in the world, and in terms of spectator numbers it’s also huge. Every race weekend feels like a Super Bowl.

“We’re seeing significant growth in viewership, not just in total numbers but in engagement across the weekend. Two key areas of growth are younger audiences and female fans, and both are exceeding expectations.”

Cue added that Apple will continue to innovate across its ecosystem, including expanded viewing experiences, with IMAX screenings of the FORMULA 1 CRYPTO.COM MIAMI GRAND PRIX and further broadcast innovations planned.

As part of the Miami Grand Prix’s “Women Drive” platform, Mary Barra, Chair and CEO of General Motors, took part in a conversation with ABC News Chief Business Correspondent Rebecca Jarvis, sharing insight into female leadership, diversity, and the importance of visibility in shaping the future of motorsport.

In Cadillac’s maiden season — and its first race on home soil — Barra also unveiled a limited-edition run of just 26 CT5-V Blacking F1 Collector Series road cars, celebrating the brand’s entry into Formula 1.

In his closing remarks at ABX Miami, Werner Brell, CEO of Motorsport Network, said: “The Miami Grand Prix is becoming a focal point of global business leadership, with influential figures from finance, technology, sport, and culture all coming together.

“Motorsport Network sits at the intersection of rights holders, teams, OEMs, sponsors, brands, and fans. In an increasingly fragmented world, our role is to connect that ecosystem — growing audiences, delivering measurable ROI to partners, and creating always-on experiences for fans.

“Our global audience reached an all-time high in Q1, with U.S. growth up 153% year-on-year in March alone — a clear indicator of the market’s potential.”

As ABX Miami concluded, it underlined the growing importance of strategic dialogue alongside race-week spectacle, positioning ABX at the center of the conversations shaping Formula 1’s future. Attention now turns to the next editions — New York on October 21 and London on February 3 — which will launch the 2027 season alongside the Autosport Awards.