Sky Sports F1 reporter Craig Slater has revealed that there were ‘crisis meetings’ called with the Miami Dolphins’ management after he performed a viral stunt, pretending to swim in the fake marina at the Miami Grand Prix circuit ahead of its inaugural race in 2022.
The Miami GP debuted on the calendar to a mixed reception. As the second American race, its presence was heavily scrutinised, and the fake marina combined with the over-the-top show around the event rubbed some fans the wrong way.
Slater also found himself in the firing line, although not from fans. Instead, the Sky F1 reporter landed on the wrong side of the event’s management team. Explaining the situation in a Reddit ‘ask me anything’ session, he wrote: “I got in a lot of trouble for that, I have to say.
“I hadn’t intended to jump into the water. I knew it was a thing because there had been people that planted images of themselves on images of the fake marina, but the actual swimming bit, I jumped in, and the camera panned off.
“In that moment, I thought, I wonder if I could do a bit of a backstroke on the fake plastic lagoon. And actually, it worked quite well. I got a bit of traction as I was moving myself. But there were apparently crisis meetings called with the Miami Dolphins management about it.
“They weren’t pretty happy. Although they took it in good part when I subsequently saw them, and there were a lot of phone calls. I felt really sorry for the people who were marketing the event because they thought I was poking fun at it.
For the latest breaking stories and headlines, sign up to our Daily Express F1 newsletter, or join our WhatsApp community here.
“It really is a world-class event. They do such a good job there. But it was meant to be a bit of innocent fun, and it was totally spur of the moment. So yeah, it genuinely wasn’t a hatchet job against the people running the Miami event, which is maybe the most polished event on the calendar now. If you get the chance to go, go to that.”
Despite the organiser’s fears, the Miami GP has thrived since its arrival on the calendar. In May of this year, the event signed a 10-year contract extension, which will keep it on the schedule through 2041, making it the longest contracted Grand Prix in F1.
“In just three years, the Miami Grand Prix has established itself as one of the most important and spectacular events on our calendar, an extraordinary example of quality and vision that truly represents the spirit and ambition of Formula One in the United States,” said F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali after the announcement.