The Tractor Boys will be missing their most famous fan if they earn promotion to the Premier League on Saturday.
Ed Sheeran has put his Ipswich Town allegiance to one side and opted for a trip to the Miami Grand Prix rather than potentially see his club return to the top flight – but he did promise to watch the game with fans while out there. Kieran McKenna’s side need only a draw at home to Huddersfield during Saturday’s round of simultaneous kick-offs to tie up second place in the Championship and automatic promotion.
The ‘Castle On the Hill’ singer will be watching F1 ace Max Verstappen attempt to win the Miami GP for the third time in as many editions this weekend. The Dutchman has dominated the east-coast event since its inaugural race in 2022 and is hoping to extend his standings lead over Red Bull team-mate Sergio Perez.
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And it appears performing at the Miami showdown (twice) trumps possibly watching history at Portman Road. Ipswich are on the verge of being promoted to the Premier League for the first time since 2002, with champions Leicester City having already banked the No1 spot.
Sheeran, 33, was spotted at his lifelong club earlier this season and even got behind the Portman Road bar to pull pints for fans. He also visited the squad’s changing room to belt out hits with the players after McKenna’s men made a sterling start to the season.
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(Image: Mark Thompson/Getty Images)
Sheeran made an appearance in the paddock in Miami on Saturday and got an up-close look at Red Bull’s RB20. He also had a brief chat with team principal Christian Horner and told Sky Sports’ Ted Kravitz about how his love of F1 started.
“I didn’t really know much about it,” said the four-time Grammy Award-winner. “And then I got booked for the Austin [GP] two years ago and watched all of Drive to Survive.
(Image: Clive Rose – Formula 1/Formula 1 via Getty Images)
(Image: PA)
“I guess that’s the best kind of crash course you can do in it, just watch that. Most of the people I know who love it now are into it through that.”
Given he’s due to sponsor the club next season, Sheeran said the club “won’t pay for itself” as he explained his reasoning behind opting for business in Miami ahead of his club. However, Leeds could still upset that investment if McKenna’s side fail to win at home on Saturday.