Miami-Dade politicians quietly proclaimed a ‘Formula 1 Day’ — and headed to a VIP suite
Miami-Dade politicians didn’t need a ticket to get into a VIP suite at the recent Formula One extravanganza. They had a proclamation for that.
Ahead of the Grand Prix race on Sunday, May 5, four county commissioners joined Mayor Daniella Levine Cava in one of the most exclusive corners of the racing complex built around the home field of the Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium.
Gathered outside the VIP suite belonging to stadium and team owner Stephen Ross, they presented the billionaire with a framed proclamation declaring a “Formula 1 Day” in Miami-Dade County.
Levine Cava’s office confirmed she mingled inside the Ross suite in the exclusive Paddock Club complex after the presentation but said she left before the race started. The four commissioners — Juan Carlos Bermudez and Kevin Cabrera, plus the board’s vice chair, Anthony Rodriguez, and Chair Oliver Gilbert — stayed for the race, according to multiple people who saw them in the suite with views of the Formula One finish line.
A commission spokesperson did not respond to follow-up questions about their suite visit after the four issued a joint statement on May 10, saying that they attended Formula One to present a proclamation and participate in a pre-race ceremony.
In a brief interview, Rodriguez questioned the scrutiny of his race day whereabouts for an event that Miami-Dade officials before him helped recruit to Miami Gardens in
2022.
“I was there. I enjoyed it,” he said outside the commission chambers before a recent committee meeting. “It’s stupid to think someone is going to present a proclamation and then leave.”
Tickets to Formula One can cost thousands of dollars, and Florida law prohibits elected officials from accepting gifts from companies that lobby them — a category that includes the Miami Dolphins, which receives millions in MiamiDade subsidies, including $4 million in county money earmarked for the weekend Formula One race.
Miami-Dade commissioners are also preparing