The GTA 6 trailer and other imagery inspired by the Grand Theft Auto series has been used throughout this weekend’s F1 race in Miami. From logos, a trailer, a 3D character model and more, we’ll be taking a look at it all here.
GTA VI will feature Vice City, the fictional take on Miami and it was not a surprise to see the sport’s broadcasts take inspiration from the blockbuster franchise. We might only have a single trailer but the game has continued to influence major companies and events over the past few months.
GTA x F1 begins
The race weekend kicked off a practice session that featured a GTA looking 3D model of one of the commentators. On the F1 TV live broadcast, technical analyst Sam Collins came on to talk. On screen fans could see a pop-up for his name and title but it was accompanied by a GTA NPC looking model of him and a GTA VI-inspired backdrop down to even the colours.
At the start of the each session over the weekend, the camera pans up from the ocean to the beach and buildings. The F1 Spring logo was then put on screen. This is similar to one of the first shots in the GTA VI trailer.
GTA VI trailer opening
The GTA VI trailer also served as a base for the opening to Sky Sports’ broadcast for Qualifying. Sky Sports is the UK and Ireland broadcast for F1 and fans were greeted with a GTA VI trailer style intro ahead of the drivers going out for pole position.
Clips from the current weekend and previous were played over the sound of Tom Petty’s Love Is a Long Road. The song quickly became popular decades after its release thanks to the GTA VI trailer in December. It saw a surge in streams on music platforms and now it is being used in clips like this.
Shots of celebrities, vertical style footage and even a “No Parking” pop-up in a similar style to the WASTED from GTA can be seen in the video. It’s also not a GTA in IRL video without the usage of the HUD design found in GTA games. Usually people will use the generic San Andreas UI but to the credit of the editor at Sky, they created something custom. It shows money, the time, stars, shield and health but also an icon for the steering wheel.
Sky featured a Miami Grand Prix logo inspired by the GTA VI one in this intro too. Whilst the font is not the same, the background has that purple to orange gradient that is the de facto colour scheme for Miami/Vice City.
If you’d like to watch the 50 second video in full, you can view it from Sky Sports F1’s Twitter (currently know as X) account here.
Sky Sports also used GTA cover art style title cards for the sessions like Qualifying. With the iconic black borders around several images, this style which has been a staple for quite sometime has been parodied many times.
Rockstar Games uses F1 in GTA Online this weekend
There’s a bit more synergy between GTA and F1 this weekend than you think. Sure, the location of Miami is an easy excuse to involve GTA VI somehow but Rockstar Games also did some F1 connections for GTA Online this week.
The current GTA Online Event Week which kicked off on Thursday was headlined by bonuses for the open-wheel races mode which is basically Formula 1 racing. Cars such as the Benefactor BR8 are basically F1 car models and the race series has mechanics such as pitstops, ERS and tyre wear.
Speaking of the Benefactor BR8, it can be won on the podium via daily wheel spins at the casino. The F1 inspired races are also paying out triple the cash and RP this week too. Be sure to check out everything happening in GTA Online this week including all of the F1 themed content here.
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