This year’s F1 Crypto.com Miami Grand Prix was actioned packed, on and off the track, with drivers and celebrities alike enjoying the annual visit to the Miami International Autodrome or MIA. MIA is a purpose-built temporary 5.412 km circuit around Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida, and is the home of the Miami Dolphins NFL team.
After missing out on pole position to new dad Max Verstappen, the McLarens came home to take a 1-2 formation finish with Australian driver Oscar Piastri leading home Lando Norris 37 seconds clear of third-placed George Russell in Sunday’s Miami Grand Prix. Meanwhile, Ferrari had a disappointing qualifying taking P8 and P12 and things didn’t go much smoother in the race with team orders drama and eventually they finished P7 for Charles Leclerc and P8 for Lewis Hamilton around a minute behind the winner.
All the drivers had fun though during the driver’s parade before the race because each team completed the lap of the circuit in a LEGO F1 car. Built to almost a 1:1 scale, they were constructed using nearly 400,000 LEGO bricks, weighing 1,000kg and hit speeds of 20km/h while using authentic Pirelli tyres. The cars were based on the LEGO F1 Speed Champions range and designed to celebrate Formula 1 and the LEGO Group’s ongoing, multi-year partnership.
“It would take a whole weekend to go through the wide range of activations around Hard Rock Stadium and the Miami International Autodrome. We have so many different spaces like the Hard Rock Beach Club and the MIA Marina, which bookend each side of the campus. Anywhere you turn you will find an interactive activation, unique restaurant or captivating entertainment which makes our campus truly spectacular and inviting to everyone.
One of our highlights was bringing locally-owned, female-led businesses to the Paddock Club. Taudrey, a handcrafted jeweller, and Soy Delicious, a handmade candle maker, were two of the biggest hits in the Paddock all weekend. Being able to host South Florida-based businesses were something that helped us amplify the culture and energy of Miami for our guests, which is at the center of our identity,” Katharina Nowak, VP, Business Operations at F1 Crypto.com Miami Grand Prix told Driven Women Magazine.
Situated above the F1 pits amidst all of the action is the Formula 1 Paddock Club, where prestige meets precision, the Paddock Club provides an unmatched VIP experience by pairing unparalleled trackside views with unbound elegance, speed, and sophistication during race weekend. This year, adjacent to the main Paddock Club building was the Paddock Club Garden, which incorporated The Art Club. This art exhibition come live art demonstration saw a number artists painting in front of the crowd throughout the weekend, including automotive fine artist Lyn Hiner and abstract motorsport artist, Anita Lewis.
“Integrating art into our fan experience is always a priority for the Miami Grand Prix, especially within the Paddock Club. We refer to Miami as a curator of culture and want our guests to feel the energy of South Florida at the track. By bringing art and specifically live shows to the Paddock Club, we enable guests to feel an authentic atmosphere.
They love to interact with the art and the live element brings an increased impact to the exhibition. The process of building this concept takes time and collaboration, but we have great people to put this together and allow our guests to feel the atmosphere of Miami year after year,” said Ms Nowak.
This was Lyn Hiner’s first time attending an F1 race ever and she described the experience as “overwhelming” admitting that she doesn’t get overwhelmed very often, but putting it down to the extravagance or sensory experiences with everything so beautifully equipped and thoughtfully curated in The Paddock Club Garden. Lyn is now hooked and cannot wait for the next time she is privileged to exhibit in that environment again. Summing up the craziest thing that Lyn witnessed in Miami, she laughed and replied, “I’m pretty sure I will take a page from the Las Vegas adverts from years ago and say: what happens at the Miami GP, stays at the Miami GP!”
Knowing it was the 75th anniversary year of Formula 1, Lyn Hiner wanted to incorporate her love of not only the technological brilliance of the modern F1 chassis, but almost more importantly, she wanted to celebrate the history of the vehicles with the works that she chose to display at The Art Club.
With one of her favourite drivers moving to Ferrari, Lyn knew that painting would be her “now” car, but deciding what her “then” car would be took a little more thought as there are so many important historical cars to select from. With all the news about the 1954 Mercedes Streamliner in the last year and the fact Lyn fell in love with it at Pebble Beach, that became her muse for the second painting she displayed.
“Perhaps it’s because of the mystique and out-of-reach perspective we mere mortals have with these automobiles; I chose to paint them from the Birdseye perspective. I love that view! To round out the trio, I went back to the rich history of Ferrari and racing. This time with a view from the cockpit! My goodness! You can almost feel the wind on your face!” Lyn shared with Driven Women Magazine.
Additionally, the artists were asked to work on a painting live during the weekend. Lyn spoke with one of her collectors about a car in his stable, the Rubens Barrichello’s 2000 Ferrari F1 chassis. Being such a beautiful beast of a machine, this was the piece Lyn elected to create.
“I consider my painting style to be expressionism. I want people to feel what I create. When I hear that my work has evoked joy or a love for the sport or a memory felt, I am over the moon! I was blessed to hear such feedback during my time at the Miami GP. It’s lovely to hear people like my work…but when it evokes a deep feeling, there’s genuinely nothing like it,” revealed Lyn.
Lyn also had time to enjoy the racing when it was quiet in The Art Club and like many out there, the series “Drive to Survive” has given her a limited view into the world of F1. Despite having no stake in any one team over the weekend, Lyn enjoyed the race as a whole and cheered when McLaren took first and second. But admits maybe she felt a little sad that Ferrari didn’t have a better day, but there’s always next time.
“Being invited to exhibit at this event was not on my radar, but mercy! I’m so grateful I was, as I had other things going on around that time! The experience, the lovely people I had the privilege to meet and work with, the fellow artists I was honoured to exhibit next and all I can say is WOW! I am completely blessed by this renewed love of racing!” professed Lyn.
Another key focus this past year at South Florida Motorsports was highlighting the roles and achievements that women play in motorsport and the Women Drive panel, on the sidelines of the F1 Crypto.com Miami Grand Prix contributed to do this.
“Our organisation is powered by women who lead key business verticals in support of the race weekend. We wanted to bring that to the forefront with the Women Drive panel which included Susie Wolff (Managing Director, F1 Academy), Lindsey Vonn (Olympic Champion Alpine Skier), Maggie Timoney (CEO, Heineken USA) and Radhika Jones (Former Editor-In-Chief, Vanity Fair). Amplifying the female voices of leaders in sports and business was something that we wanted to be a focus of the weekend and felt is representative of our organisation,” added Ms Nowak.
Despite having witnessed F1 racing before, the spectacle never loses its grip and it stirs something deep within Anita Lewis every time. The rush of adrenaline as the cars screamed past, their engines howling with cutting-edge intensity, brought her close to tears. Anita describes the atmosphere as electric, a perfect fusion of speed, sound, and emotion that resonates with her not only as a fan, but as an artist inspired by motion, machinery, and the beauty of unrelenting performance. In her words, “These high-tech machines weren’t just competing, they were going for the kill; each move charged with raw power and ruthless precision.”
During the Women Drive session, next to the stage where guests such as Lindsey Vonn and Susie Wolff were being interviewed, Anita worked on her Charles Leclerc painting with a Monaco themed background, live in front of the audience.
Anita also had several artworks on display at The Art Club comprising of original work, limited edition giclée prints, and prints on metal. Of the originals, there were two large paintings of 36×72” depicting large scale visions of F1 cars at their height of speed screaming down the track. One was of the highly coveted new Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton in ¾ dynamic view. The other was of Max Verstappen in a full side view of the Red Bull racing along the Miami track, with bright tropical colours.
Another medium sized painting 30×48” was of driver Lando Norris edging down the track as a full-on frontal coming at you, with a smaller size painting depicting Carlos Sainz in his helmet ready to go with his eyes in piercing concentration.
The rest of Anita’s display were prints on metal of Lando Norris long view with a huge number ‘4’ in silver and also one of Lewis Hamilton of his moment of triumph in Silverstone with the now iconic view of the Union Jack held high spread above him. Others Anita was working on at the event as embellished limited editions were on canvas and of Max Verstappen, her most popular artwork.
“My art stands apart because it doesn’t focus on the technical exactness of the racecar — not every nut, bolt, or mechanical detail. Instead, it captures the essence of speed, the raw emotion of movement on the track. Through bold abstraction, I paint the energy, the momentum, the thrilling burst forward as the car tears through space. It’s less about precise realism and more about evoking the visceral excitement and passion of motorsport, translating motion and adrenaline onto the canvas in a way that resonates on a deeper, emotional level,” Anita told Driven Women Magazine.
Anita has painted live in front of audiences many times, and each experience brings its own energy and engagement. For Anita, there’s something special about allowing people to witness the creative process in real time—it invites connection and sparks curiosity. That said, she has learned through experience that painting in oils, her primary medium in the studio, isn’t ideal for live settings. Oils require extended drying times between layers, which can be limiting during shorter painting sessions. Additionally, some people are sensitive to the smell of oil paints, and in public spaces that could pose health concerns or discomfort. To address this, Anita paints in acrylics when working live, specifically using them to embellish giclée prints of her original oil paintings.
This approach allows Anita to add fresh layers of colour, detail, and dimension in a shorter time frame. It not only makes live painting more practical, but also breathes new life into each piece, transforming it into a unique work of art with.
“The feedback I received for my abstract motorsport artworks was both affirming and eye-opening. Viewers were often surprised to learn that a woman had created such bold, high-energy depictions of racecars—a reaction that highlighted both lingering stereotypes and the power of challenging them.
Many praised the way I captured the motion and speed of motorsport with striking dynamism, noting how the pieces seemed to pulse with life. The work was often described as exceptionally talented, with comments emphasising the technical skill and emotional impact behind the compositions,” divulged Anita.
According to Anita, the Paddock Club is an experience you won’t forget, pure fun wrapped in luxury, and she describes it beautifully by saying, “Think plush seating, stylish decor, and an atmosphere that feels more like a chic party than a day at the races. The champagne is always flowing, and if you can think of a drink or a bite to eat, it’s probably already on offer. From gourmet snacks to full-on meals, everything is top-tier but totally relaxed. It’s the kind of place where everyone’s having a great time—laughing, mingling, and soaking in the energy of the race just steps away. Watching the cars fly by while sipping something bubbly? That’s the magic of the Paddock Club. It’s indulgent, yes—but in the most fun, unforgettable way.”
McLaren, the team Anita was cheering for took the win, which was thrilling for her, even though the driver she personally rooted for didn’t come out on top. Just witnessing the sheer precision and pressure these teams operate under was awe-inspiring for Anita. Watching a pit stop happen in around two seconds—tyres off, tyres on, and the car back out on track in a blink—was absolutely exhilarating for her. The level of coordination, speed, and split-second decision-making from every crew and driver is just mind-blowing, making it impossible not to be impressed according to Anita.
As a seasoned artist, some of the most rewarding moments in Anita’s career have come from developing her own language of art within the motorsport industry and beginning to be recognised for it as a woman in a male-dominated arena. However, it still continues to be an uphill battle of elbowing in one’s hard-earned position in this male dominated field. Whether it’s through live painting, special projects, or spotlighting key figures, Anita finds great purpose in contributing creatively to that growing visibility.
“It’s not just about the art — it’s about being part of a larger movement that champions inclusion, representation, and a deep passion for the sport. Alongside my artistic work, I’m developing a market for upscale women’s accessories and apparel, featuring my designs on leather bags, jackets, and other exclusive pieces. These aren’t just fashion items — they’re bold, high-fashion trackside statements designed specifically for women. Looking ahead, I remain dedicated to advancing female recognition in motorsport arts, seeking out new projects and fresh inspiration to push this mission forward,” concluded Anita.
For Katharina Nowak, The Art Club set within the wider Paddock Club experience was very successful, “We want every space in the Paddock Club to be home to excitement and entertainment and with artists like Lyn Hiner, Anita Lewis and Samantha Zimmerman’s live exhibitions at The Art Club, we were able to do that. The Garden at the Paddock Club is one of my favourite spaces because it provides our guests with an experience that combines the art culture of Miami with the beauty of Formula 1. The area included a gallery of motorsports paintings, a painted Formula 1 car and an interactive mural where guests become artists. We found that the guests loved the interactive nature of The Art Club and the entertainment that the space provided.
We will always continue to find ways to bring Miami to the Miami Grand Prix. What that looks like evolves from year to year and we’re still very early in the planning stages for the 2026 race. But we are always challenging ourselves on what works well and what doesn’t and are constantly looking to refine our entertainment offerings. Miami is not a place where you rest on your laurels. It’s a place where you continually raise the bar and we are excited to be back at work and conceptualising new initiatives for our guests, who expect a unique experience each year.”
Formula 1 and the FIA have announced the calendar for the 2026 FIA Formula One World Championship, with drivers and teams set to embark on another 24-round campaign as new technical regulations come into play. All the action of the F1 Crypto.com Miami Grand Prix will play out once again in 2026 on the weekend of 1-3 May, tickets available here, and Formula 1 will continue racing at the Miami Grand Prix until 2041.
For more information about the artwork of Lyn Hiner, visit lynhiner.com, and for Anita Lewis visit, abstractmotorsportart.com
Main image by Formula 1 Crypto.com Miami Grand Prix and all other photographs used with permission from Lyn Hiner and Anita Lewis.