India, May 6 -- There are two things I will clearly remember about standing on the track, just before race time, for the 2026 Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix. First, there was the stealth appearance of a B-2 Spirit bomber, which glided like a quiet bird in flight as the national anthem, sung by 10-year-old Alexandria Arango, was winding down.

The second was how close I got to the Miami Grand Prix's exclusive Louis Vuitton "trophy trunk": one of the maison's elaborate cases designed to hold the winner's haul. The trunk and trophy were treated like a celebrity: they had their own stand and red velvet rope. With doors swung open, showing off flamingo-pink (how very Miami) and Art Deco-blue accents in the shape of a "V" (for victory and Vuitton),...