The Formula 1 is heading to the United States Grand Prix this upcoming weekend. Not only will there be a sprint race at the Circuit of the Americas (COTA), but a new pre-show, F1 Grid Gigs, will also debut. This new pre-race program allows well-known local artists to perform on the grid just before the cars hit the track.
The American Grand Prix weekend is known not only for the on-track action but also for its show spectacle. For instance, former basketball player Shaquille O’Neal drove a large Cadillac to the podium in 2021 to present the trophy to winner Max Verstappen. However, this year’s United States GP is upping the ante by organizing a brand new pre-show on the grid: F1 Grid Gigs.
Raising Entertainment to a New Level
This new pre-race program allows ‘locally relevant’ artists to perform on the grid before the cars hit the track. The new show is inspired by the F1 75 Live event that took place earlier this year at the O2 Arena in London. Through F1 Grid Gigs, Formula 1 hopes to ‘raise the level of pre-race entertainment for both the fans in the stands and the fans at home’. Local country singer Drake Milligan has the honor of being the first to perform an F1 Grid Gig in Austin.
“There’s nothing like the energy of a Formula 1 starting grid as the world gears up for the showdown between the best drivers,” says Emily Prazer, Chief Commercial Officer at F1, enthusiastically about the new pre-show. “F1 Grid Gigs presented by American Express will make one of the most anticipated moments of a Grand Prix weekend even more exciting. This new pre-race show is designed to capture and celebrate the excitement of the grid, and to give fans in the stands and at home a taste of the adrenaline and excitement before we start racing.”
