Formula One's efforts to expand its reach across the U.S. got a key boost Thursday when Miami city commissioners agreed to enter formal negotiations to host a race as early as next year.

The unanimous vote allows city staff to work out a contract with F1 that could be voted on later this summer. Miami officials have said they hope for a 10-year deal on a race that could be staged in October Womens Clay Matthews Jersey , toward the end of the annual F1 season.

Formula One has been looking to expand in the U.S. since the U.S. Grand Prix was revived in 2012 at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas. Miami would be the fourth race in North America, along with the annual Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal and the Mexican Grand Prix in Mexico City.

A Miami race also would give F1's American owners, Liberty Media, a coveted showcase event in a U.S. city with international interest for fans of the global series.

"Formula 1 in Miami represents a fantastic opportunity to bring the greatest racing spectacle on the planet to one of the world's most iconic cities, and we are delighted that the journey is underway," said Sean Bratches, Formula One's director of commercial operations.

Although a contract must still be approved, Miami Mayor Francis Suarez called Thursday's vote a "big step" toward getting the race done. He noted the race faced very little opposition in the public comment period at Thursday's commission meeting. Suarez said the city and F1 will work to address any concerns about traffic and noise in Miami neighborhoods.

F1 officials have been scouting locations since 2017 and the city last week released an early proposal of a course that would take the cars through downtown high-rises, into the Port of Miami and over water on two bridges. Reigning F1 champion Lewis Hamilton said he was excited about the prospect of racing in Miami, but deemed the proposed course boring.

"Miami is a super-cool place and I was very excited to hear about it, but when I saw the layout I was like 'meh'. It could be a lot more fun," Hamilton said in Barcelona ahead of Sunday's Spanish Grand Prix.

F1's previous efforts to schedule races in the U.S. included New Jersey and Los Angeles before Liberty Media zeroed in on Miami. The location would also give F1 a gateway for fans from South America, which has only one F1 race Authentic Todd Gurley Jersey , in Brazil.

"I think it would be great to have a race there," McLaren driver Stoffel Vandoorne said. "I think the U.S. has always been kind of a territory where we want to promote the sport a bit more."

Mario Andretti, the last American to win an F1 season championship in 1978, called Miami a "very attractive venue."

"There's a lot of room for growth with F1 in the US. Why not a second race?" Andretti said. "It would be some sort of a coup (for Liberty) because Miami has been talked about for a long time and then it always goes into never-never land."

The U.S. Grand Prix in Texas gets more than $25 million annually in state and local tax money to pay F1's rights fees and other expenses. The proposed Miami Grand Prix would include a business partnership with Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross to promote and stage the race.

While no financial details have been released by F1 or the city, Suarez has said he expects "99 percent" of financing for a Miami race to come from private sources with any city funds to be under $500,000.

Ross helped lead the plan to relocate the Miami Open tennis tournament from Key Biscayne to the Dolphins' stadium complex in Miami Gardens in time for next year's tournament. He also brought several international soccer events to Hard Rock Stadium, which is seeking to host World Cup matches in 2026.

AP Sports Writer Tales Azzoni contributed from Barcelona.

Working the phones and making shrewd picks that addressed the present and future needs of the Baltimore Ravens, Ozzie Newsome conjured one final fascinating draft for a team that has relied on his intuition since its inception.

After making six trades and selecting 12 players, Newsome declared Saturday night: ”The Baltimore Ravens are a better football team after the past three days.”

Newsome is stepping down as general manager after this season. He has owned the final say in the Ravens’ draft room since 1996, when he chose future Hall of Famers Jonathan Ogden and Ray Lewis in the first round.

The 2018 draft may not turn out to be as successful, but coach John Harbaugh – who’d heading into his 11th year with Baltimore – wouldn’t bet against it.

”I told Ozzie just as we finished this thing up, I feel like this is his best draft since I’ve been here,” Harbaugh said. ”Heck, maybe the best ever.”

Denying last month that he was carrying any nostalgic feelings into the draft Authentic Travis Kelce Jersey , Newsome insisted he was focused solely on filling holes on a team that’s missed the postseason for three straight years.

He did just that. For trivia buffs out there, his final draft pick was at defensive end: Zach Sieler of Ferris State in the seventh round.

His work done, Newsome was about to hang up the phone when he realized the significance of the moment.

”Yes, it was emotional,” he acknowledged. ”The kid told me he was going to make me proud.”

Newsome will be succeeded by assistant GM Eric DeCosta. This may have been Newsome’s final draft, but his work is not done.

”Even though there’s a finality with that, there’s not finality for what I’m going to continue to do with the Baltimore Ravens,” he said.

Newsome was at his finest this week. He moved back twice in the first round before selecting South Carolina tight end Hayden Hurst at No. 25, providing quarterback Joe Flacco with a downfield threat from the slot.

Then, Newsome made a bold move that ultimately will determine the success of this draft. He swapped three picks to choose at No. 32, where he snapped up Louisville quarterback Lamar Jackson, the multifaceted 2016 Heisman Trophy winner.

The Ravens insist Flacco will remain the starter this season, but it might be hard to resist for long the temptation of playing an athlete who accounted for 119 touchdowns in three college seasons.

On Day 2, after two more trades Authentic Adrian Peterson Jersey , Newsome turned his attention back to the 2018 Ravens by taking right tackle Orlando Brown Jr. -whose father played with Baltimore – and tight end Mark Andrews of Oklahoma.

For his last day as Baltimore’s draft guru, Newsome had eight choices. Each was made with intense consideration, as always.

”A lot of work has gone into this, starting back last June,” Newsome said. ”I really, really feel very good about this class and how it came to be.”

Some items of note from the Ravens draft:

HERE’S THE CATCH: The theme of this offseason for Baltimore has been to overhaul the receiving corps, and Newsome continued the process in the draft.

After signing free agent receivers Michael Crabtree, John Brown and Willie Snead in recent weeks, Newsome collared two tight ends in the draft and on Saturday used two straight picks on receivers: Jaleel Scott of New Mexico State in the fourth round and Jordan Lasley of UCLA in the fifth.

Scott and Lasley both topped 1,000 yards receiving last season and each scored nine TDs.

ON THE DEFENSIVE: After using the first two days of the draft to improve the Ravens’ offense, Newsome turned his attention Saturday to the other side of the ball.

He selected Alabama cornerback Anthony Averett at 118th overall, UCLA inside linebacker Kenny Young at No. 122 and Texas safety DeShon Elliott at 190 and then, finally, Sieler.

HOLD THAT LINE: Extending his effort to make life easier for Flacco Authentic Eli Manning Jersey , Newsome attempted to shore up the offensive line in the draft.

After the Ravens lost right tackle Austin Howard and center Ryan Jensen during the offseason, they grabbed a few potential replacements.

In addition to Brown, the Ravens took tackle Greg Senat from Wagner, a 6-foot-6, 305-pounder who also played on the basketball team. In the seventh round, Newsome again tapped his alma mater, selecting Alabama center Bradley Bozeman.

STILL NEED: The Ravens are fine with running back Alex Collins but hoped to find at least one backup in the draft.

DeCosta said that just as Baltimore was ready to pounce, another team stepped in and took the Ravens’ choice.

”There will be more opportunities for us,” he said.

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