The City of Lights is gearing up for its F1 return after 40 years; Las Vegas got a glimpse of the F1 cars again. Las Vegas Grand Prix will be featured as a street race where fans will see cars racing near the iconic buildings of Vegas City. The 6.12 km track layout will challenge the drivers to the core of their abilities. Cars will fly by famous hotels like the Venetian, Caesars Palace, and the Bellagio.
Formula Drivers were in attendance for Vegas Launch Party
Lewis Hamilton, Sergio Perez, George Russell, and Alex Albon were in attendance for the F1 Launch Party in Vegas. Fans enjoyed the live car runs as Hamilton and Perez took the streets of Vegas.
Other spectacles for fans included the Formula 1 Pit Stop Challenge, F1 Esports simulators, car and trophy photo opportunities, and exclusive giveaways on the famous Strip.
Las Vegas GP returns after 40 years
Vegas is not new to hosting the F1 racing event. In 1981 and 1982, Las Vegas held Formula 1 Grand Prix weekend. The track was laid out in the parking lot of the Caesars Palace hotel and was set up for a temporary circuit. While the track was wide enough for overtaking, its counter-clockwise nature proved difficult for drivers to maintain their composure. The counter-clockwise nature also puts a tremendous strain on the driver’s neck.
Also, since Vegas is located in Nevada, a desert area where temperatures soar very high, drivers felt heat exhaustion and had to spend a few minutes recovering after the race. The unpopularity of the circuit among drivers meant that the racing in Vegas didn’t continue from 1983 onwards. The races also didn’t draw any significant crowds, resulting in a massive loss for the hotel.
United States will now host three F1 races in a single year
Liberty Media purchased a 39-acre strip for $240 million earlier this year for the construction of pit lanes, paddocks, and hospitality.
The Vegas Grand Prix in 2023 will be the third race in the United States of America that will take place in a single calendar year. The other two will be US Grand Prix at COTA and Miami Grand Prix, which made its debut this season in 2022. The event will occur at night under the lights. It will also be the first time that a Formula 1 race will take place on Saturday rather than Sunday.
