The McLaren Mastercard Formula 1 team posted on Instagram a 19-second video showing four men playing Cuban dominoes around a rustic wooden table, with the message "7 days to go" as a countdown to the Miami Grand Prix 2026.
The publication, released exactly seven days before the start of the race weekend, is a direct nod to the Cuban community in Miami, where dominoes is a deeply rooted identity tradition.
The video shows the four players mixing the tiles face down in the center of the table, in a casual setting with greenery and decorative art in the background, clearly referencing the atmosphere of the Parque del Dominó de Little Havana.
That park, officially known as Maximo Gómez Park, located at the corner of 8th Street and 15th Avenue, was founded in 1976 by Cuban exiles and is one of the most recognizable symbols of Cuban identity in exile.
There, dozens of Cubans gather daily to play, preserve their culture, and keep the memory of the island alive.
The choice of domino as a promotional element becomes even more significant due to the visit that took place on April 15 by the Queen Máxima of the Netherlands, who played dominoes in that very park during an official visit with King Willem-Alexander, showcasing the international appeal of the location.
For Cubans, gaming represents much more than just a simple recreational activity: it is a symbol of tradition, friendship, and social connection that strengthens community bonds, both in Cuba and among the Cuban diaspora abroad.
Miami is home to over 1.2 million Cuban descendants in South Florida, a community that has made dominoes a part of the city's daily landscape since the first exiles arrived after the 1959 Revolution.
The Miami Grand Prix 2026 will take place from May 1st to May 3rd at the Miami International Autodrome, built around the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, marking its fifth edition.
The weekend will follow a Sprint format: free practices and Sprint qualifying on Friday, the Sprint race and qualifying on Saturday, and the main race on Sunday, May 3 at 16:00 ET.
McLaren arrives in Miami with the need to rebound after an uneven start to the 2026 season, in which Mercedes has dominated with three consecutive victories in the first three races.
However, the orange team has reasons for optimism at this circuit: they won the last two editions of the Miami Grand Prix, with Lando Norris in 2024 and Piastri in 2025.
Oscar Piastri, with his best recent result of the season, a second place in Japan, will aim to repeat the victory on a track with 19 curves and 5.41 kilometers where McLaren has shown speed in recent years.
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