Dale Earnhardt Jr. has always respected the artistry of Formula 1. Almost a year ago, the NASCAR legend spoke about how his sport could benefit by paying attention to what F1 does right. “NASCAR is competitive towards other forms of motorsport, but we also pay attention to what they’re doing right, and what we think we can learn from it,” Dale Jr. said. This wasn’t just talk. Even after his retirement in 2018, he stayed deeply connected to motorsports and watched Formula 1 closely, praising everything from its infrastructure to its ability to evolve with time.
He admired how F1 gives teams the freedom to innovate and how that uniqueness fuels excitement. “I know that F1 is always aware of trying to make sure that they don’t fall into a rut, and giving the teams the ability to create and be able to set themselves apart. It drives a lot of excitement around certain manufacturers and certain teams and so forth,” he added. However, he also felt that NASCAR and F1 face similar problems, like rising costs, part shortages, and the pressure of staying relevant.
“We all fight the same thing economically. Where do we wanna go, where are we gonna be in 5 or 10 years as an industry?” he explained. That honest recognition from a 26-time Cup winner proved how seriously he takes motorsports as a whole. This mindset earned him respect beyond stock cars as he knew how motorsport worked, and he respected it all. And now, that respect turned into action.
The visit to the hallowed ground of F1
On Sunday, Dale Earnhardt Jr. crossed the line between admiration and involvement. He arrived in Miami to attend his first-ever Formula 1 race, the Miami Grand Prix. Not just as a fan in the stands, but as a guest of Red Bull Racing. The crossover lit up the social media as fans couldn’t stay calm when NASCAR’s favorite son was sitting in the heart of F1. On Sunday morning, Junior confirmed the move with a casual but iconic tweet: “Our first @F1 event. Thanks @HardRockBet @redbullracing.” Just like that, Dale Jr. officially joined the Formula 1 paddock. He attended as a guest of Red Bull Racing, the team home to four-time champion Max Verstappen. Fans were thrilled, not just because of the crossover, but because it showed mutual respect between two racing dynasties—Red Bull and Earnhardt.
One fan joked online, “Let us know if anyone complains about the lack of passing bc the cars suck.” It might sound snarky, but it’s grounded in real F1 chatter. Miami’s street circuit has seen criticism for professional racing. Despite this, over 270,000 fans attended the 2024 race weekend, proving the sport’s appeal doesn’t live or die by overtakes alone. However, Dale Jr. wasn’t walking into F1 blind. He already had ties.
Our first @F1 event. Thanks @HardRockBet @redbullracing pic.twitter.com/Axs3BU9PlF
— Dale Earnhardt Jr. (@DaleJr) May 4, 2025
Daniel Ricciardo, the Aussie fan-favorite and former Red Bull star, has been an open admirer of Dale Earnhardt Sr. Speaking about Dale Sr.’s tragic death, Ricciardo once said, “I remember the race 20 years ago vividly. My reaction to the news was crying. I called my friend at the time, Stephen, we raced go-karts together, and he was also a big Earnhardt fan. I called him as soon as I saw the news, and we just basically cried on the phone together. He was a hero, for sure.”
He picked No. 3 for his F1 car to honor Dale Sr. In 2021, he grabbed his first podium with McLaren. That unlocked a special reward. Zak Brown had promised him a shot at driving one of Dale Sr.’s iconic cars. The Aussie made it happen. True to his word, the McLaren boss handed him the keys. Speaking about his admiration for his dad, Dale Jr. once said, “I heard about his support and thoughts about my dad. He’s a big Earnhardt fan.”
Notably, the two met in Texas back in 2017 and swapped helmets. “He’s a legend, and I was really excited and glad to have the opportunity to talk to him and take a picture,” Junior recalled. That connection gave him even more reason to follow F1. Then there’s Zak Brown. The McLaren CEO is more than a businessman—he’s a true motorsport junkie. Last September, Brown appeared on the Dale Jr. Download and the two shared laughs, stories, and a deep appreciation for each other’s racing roots.
The McLaren CEO, who once sold NASCAR sponsorships, even owns Dale Sr.’s 1984 Wrangler Monte Carlo. Their friendship runs deep, and conversations about cross-series partnerships aren’t off the table. But the Miami Grand Prix has never been just about racing minds. It was a magnet for stars. Everywhere you turned, celebrities were either at parties or posing. From yacht events on Biscayne Bay to VIP lounges in South Beach, the build-up to the race was a parade of high fashion and high horsepower. Notably, the Grand Prix turned into a full-blown Hollywood party as Max Verstappen threw a party to welcome his little daughter.
Celebs packed into the Hard Rock Beach Club, and yachts bobbed on Biscayne Bay. Mr. 305 himself, Pitbull, lit up the stage. Kygo brought the tropical vibes. Meanwhile, DJ Tiesto is set to create history with a pre-race set on the grid bridge and a victory lap performance from the podium. He will become the first celebrity ever to perform on a grid bridge in Formula 1 history. Also spinning through the weekend were big names like Kaskade, Cedric Gervais, and Sofi Tukker, turning the paddock into a party zone.
The energy in Miami is unmatched, and Formula 1 just makes it big. Notably, this year’s Miami GP collides with the NASCAR Cup Series race in Texas, which is set to start almost an hour before the F1 event. The racing world is hyped up, and the buzz around Dale Jr.’s presence only added to the hype.
The Internet explodes with excitement around Dale Earnhardt Jr’s F1 crossover!
The buzz around Dale Jr.’s F1 debut only grew louder once fans took to social media. Many were curious how the NASCAR icon would respond to the flashy, elite world of Formula 1. One fan wrote, “I am definitely eager to hear about your experience on the Download this week. Kyle Busch recently said F1 is ‘princess vibes.’ I gotta know if you think he’s spot on or spot off on that.”
That quote from Busch stirred controversy. F1, with its VIP lounges and champagne sprays, can seem distant from NASCAR’s dirt-under-the-fingernails image. But having Dale Jr. there might help break that stereotype—or confirm it. Some fans were simply blown away by the spectacle. “Even when the track doesn’t lend itself to great racing, it’s hard to beat that feeling on lap 1 as they all fly by,” a user wrote. That goosebumps moment, when 20 F1 cars scream down the straight at full throttle, translated across fan bases. NASCAR or F1, that sensation is universal. It’s racing at its purest.
Others were speculating on potential podcast guests. One fan tweeted, “So Max Verstappen on the Download is what I’m hearing.” Given Dale’s friendship with Red Bull and his love for Verstappen’s style, that idea didn’t sound far-fetched. A Verstappen cameo would be huge—and symbolic of this newfound bridge between NASCAR and F1. However, speed was another common topic.
A user posted, “Man, the speed they are hitting there at the end of the straight is something else. I saw 212 in qualifying. That’s insane! Enjoy the show.” It’s a reminder that no matter the debate, raw speed gets respect. Even for seasoned stock car fans, watching open-wheel cars blast down a straightaway at 212 mph hits differently. But beyond the stats and spectacle, it was the symbolism that struck a chord. Dale Earnhardt Jr., a name etched into NASCAR history, was now part of the F1 weekend, and fans loved it.
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