And just as Formula 1: Drive to Survive helped turn F1 drivers into household names, F1: The Academy, a new seven-part docuseries produced by Reese Witherspoon’s media company, Hello Sunshine, may do the same. The series follows the women of F1 Academy as they compete against each other throughout the 2024 F1 Academy season.
On Thursday, F1: The Academy premiered at the Fillmore Miami Beach at the Jackie Gleason Theater, where Block saw it for the first time. “I was so nervous to watch it but I’m so proud of Hello Sunshine and the whole crew because it’s really amazing, to be honest. The production, they filmed so many hours of footage last year and to see it put together on the big screen, it was amazing. I’m so excited for everyone to see it. It’s so cool,” Block said.
Between the thrill of the Miami Grand Prix, the buzz following the series premiere, and a new feature about F1 Academy in the pages of Vanity Fair, the excitement was palpable, but the evening also offered a moment of calm during a jam-packed weekend. During cocktail hour, Crone shared a laugh with fellow driver Pin and F1 Academy Competition Manager Delphine Biscaye as the trio reminisced about traveling to Jeddah and Shanghai for races.
Guests including Miami Grand Prix CMO Pri Shumate, Chief Growth Officer of Mission 44 Jamie Elfenbein, Sky Sports presenter Jessica Medland, commentator Toni Cowan-Brown, F1 Academy Head of Communications Katie McGuinness, former driver Ken Dobson, and coach Alex Prémat, were served a menu of mezze fare, including sea scallops atop dill yogurt, honeydew, radish and sesame rose spice; shish taouk, cauliflower tiganites served with herb tahini, pine nuts, capers and hawayej spice.
As racing legend and co-founder of Women in Motorsports North America Lyn St. James and Crone posed for a photo together at the end of the night, it was clear that The Ritz-Carlton was the perfect venue for this important moment in women’s sports. The luxury hotel company, which is part of the Marriott Bonvoy portfolio, has its own relationship with F1, becoming the first Official Hotel Partner of the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team in March 2019.