The Race to First on the Fabulous Strip: F1 in Las Vegas

Earlier this year, it was announced that Formula 1 would be taking to the iconic streets of Las Vegas in 2023. It would join the race at Miami and Austin as the third venue in the USA, with the night race scheduled to be in November. It is worth noting that the actual race will be on a Saturday due to differing time zones of viewers.

Regarding the history of F1 in Las Vegas, there have been two previous events in this city. These took place in 1981 and 1982. However, it is different this time, as the cars will take to the Las Vegas Strip also weaving through the streets surrounded by famous hotels and casinos. The official announcement by F1 stated that: "The 14-turn track will run for 3.8 miles (6.12km) with top speeds expected to hit around 212mph (342km/h). The design features three straights, a high-speed cornering sequence, and a single chicane section, with the Grand Prix to be run over 50 laps."

The sport has very clearly seen a shift in the last couple of decades when it comes to venues of races, with the slow dissolution of the classic races in the calendar, paired with the introduction of more modern venues but seemingly located where there is a high economic interest. A 23-race season is already enough and so there has been plenty of speculation as to which race this highly anticipated one will replace.

Courtesy of the official F1 website

Nevertheless, the current CEO of Formula 1, Stefano Domenicali, stated: “This is an incredible moment for Formula 1 that demonstrates the huge appeal and growth of our sport with a third race in the US. Las Vegas is a destination known around the world for its excitement, hospitality, thrills, and of course, the famous Strip.

“There is no better place for Formula 1 to race than in the global entertainment capital of the world and we cannot wait to be here next year. I want to thank everyone who helped deliver this event, especially Governor Sisolak, the Clark County Commission, Steve Hill at the LVCVA, and our local partners.”

The decision to race here has also received large support from some of the drivers which presents a symbol of hope that it will be an exciting race. Many fans of the sport have recently been critical of some of the venues where the races are held, such as Jeddah, with many deeming the country and track "unsafe" and that the organisers "only care about the money". This was following the missile strikes that could be seen from the track as the smoke drifted across sections of the circuit. Sergio Perez branded the track "very dangerous" and predicted that a "big shunt" would occur - a prophesy that later became true. Therefore, there has been reason to doubt whether the streets of a bustling city would be fit for purpose and one that ensures the safety of the drivers.

But, as aforementioned, the circuit received popular support from the drivers. Valterri Bottas stated in a video made by the official F1 account: "that's epic". There was a plethora of excitement when it was revealed to them that they would be driving at this iconic destination.

Many joked about the infamous nature of activities in Las Vegas concerning the Casino's but all seemed to be in full support of a race being held here.

A virtual representation has been made showing just what a lap would look like:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nzzrhjmsVgc

This has provided many fans with a sense of excitement about just what is to come and gives a better representation of what it is truly going to look like.

The proposed track layout. Courtesy of official F1 website

It is clear to see that it may not contain the most corners and that the straights take up the majority of the lap, but it will test the driver's skills in different ways. This could be through tyre management considering the length of the main straight. Although the race is held close to the desert, the fact that it is a night race will pay serious dividends on the heat of the tyres especially owing to the withdrawal of tyre blankets in 2024.

The Las Vegas Grand Prix is certainly going to be a spectacle on all parts. It looks to be a great track with multiple places to overtake and so hopefully the race will provide some great action. The return of Las Vegas cannot be understated and as the F1 starts to attract more interest from the USA, the fanbase will only see exponential growth.

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