SHERIDAN, WYOMING – July 19, 2026 – Audi brought its performance credentials to the Miami Grand Prix at the end of April, marking the brand's first US Formula 1 appearance as a factory team and debuting the all-new Audi RS 5 in the F1 Pirelli Hot Lap Program for the first time on American soil. The weekend spanned the racetrack at Miami Gardens and the streets of Wynwood, with city-wide fan activations, partner events, and premium hospitality at Turn 1 running from April 30 through May 3. For Audi, the Miami debut carried particular significance — it was the brand's first US factory racing appearance since competing in Formula E in New York City in 2021.
The RS 5 Takes the Hot Lap Seat
The all-new Audi RS 5, a high-performance plug-in hybrid, made its US debut in the F1 Pirelli Hot Lap Program — the initiative that gives Grand Prix attendees the chance to experience the circuit alongside professional racing drivers in production vehicles during race weekend sessions. The RS 5 chosen for Miami wore a Titanium finish with Lava Red ring accents on the front, rear, and wheel hub caps, a color nod to the Audi R26 race car livery.
Two drivers with long Audi histories handled the hot lap duties: Dindo Capello, a multiple major race winner with the brand who also operates as an Audi dealer in Italy, and Markus Winkelhock, who made headlines at the Nürburgring in 2007 when he briefly led his one and only Formula 1 race appearance. Both bring genuine motorsport credibility to what could easily be a purely promotional exercise.
What Was Happening Around the City
The on-track Turn 1 Club hospitality gave fans a direct sightline to one of the circuit's most active corners across all three days of the event, with the Audi R26 replica displayed outside the venue for the full weekend. Off the track, the MAPS Backlot venue in Wynwood opened from Thursday April 30 as an immersive fan space — live screenings of every on-track session, interactive experiences, partner activations, and cultural programming brought the Audi Revolut F1 Team's world to a wider audience beyond the circuit gates.
Vito Paladino, president of Audi of America, framed the Miami activation as tapping into genuine momentum around the brand in the US market: "Formula 1 is igniting Audi brand excitement across the U.S. and creating momentum you can feel."
A Calculated Move for the US Market
The choice of Miami as Audi's US F1 debut venue was deliberate. The US is the second-largest automotive market in the world and, by Audi's own assessment, its largest growth opportunity globally. Formula 1's American audience has expanded dramatically over recent years, and the sport's three US races — Miami, Austin, and Las Vegas — give Audi repeated high-visibility platforms to build brand awareness with a younger and increasingly engaged fanbase.
The Miami appearance also coincided with a broader product push. The all-new Q3 has been on sale since March, and Audi has the Q7 and Q9 lined up for launch later in 2026, a combination the brand says will give it the freshest premium SUV portfolio in the US market by year-end. Racing presence and product momentum working in the same direction at the same time is rarely accidental.
A Long Motorsport History in North America
Audi's factory racing roots in North America run deep. The brand has competed in hill climbs at Pikes Peak, won multiple ALMS championships, and taken GT class victories at the Daytona 24-hour race going back to the 1980s. The Miami Grand Prix marked a return to that factory racing tradition on US soil after a five-year gap — a gap the brand has clearly been building toward closing since its F1 entry was confirmed.
Mini FAQ
Q: What was significant about Audi's appearance at the Miami Grand Prix? A: It marked Audi's US Formula 1 debut as a factory team and the first US appearance of the all-new Audi RS 5 as a hot lap car in the F1 Pirelli Hot Lap Program.
Q: Who drove the RS 5 in the Hot Lap Program? A: Dindo Capello and Markus Winkelhock, both with extensive Audi motorsport histories.
Q: When was Audi's previous US factory racing appearance? A: In 2021, when the brand competed in Formula E in New York City.
Q: What other new Audi models are coming to the US market in 2026? A: The all-new Audi Q7 and Q9 are planned for launch later in the year, alongside the Q3 which went on sale in March.