The Las Vegas GP is set to be the newest addition to the Formula One Grand Prix calendar, taking place in Las Vegas, Nevada, on a temporary street track featuring the Las Vegas Strip. The first race is slated to be held on November 18, 2023, the event will be the third Grand Prix hosted in the US for the 2023 season after Miami and the United States Grand Prix (Austin), making it the first time since 1982 that three races will be held in the US over the course of a Formula One season.
The new track has generated considerable excitement from drivers, particularly the Honey Badger himself, Daniel Ricciardo. However, Sergio Perez recently voiced mixed feelings about the track on social media.
When does the Las Vegas GP begin? Looking at first F1 race hosted after 41 years
Formula 1’s Las Vegas GP is set to be the world’s biggest event of 2023, according to senior officials involved in its creation. Just three months away, on August 18th, the Saturday night race will witness Formula 1 drivers speeding down the renowned Las Vegas Strip.
This isn’t the first time the cars would be screaming their engines in the streets of the casino haven at the Vegas finale. Las Vegas had hosted two Formula 1 races, dubbed the Caesars Palace Grand Prix, in 1981 and 1982. Both races served as the season finale, with Williams driver Alan Jones winning the 1981 race and Tyrrell driver Michele Alboreto taking his first Formula 1 victory at the 1982 race. Nelson Piquet and Keke Rosberg secured the titles in 1981 and 1982 respectively with fifth-place finishes at the Las Vegas finale. This time’s track is unrecognizable if compared to what it was 41 years back, including the world renowned Las Vegas strip in the the layout. The race is set to be a night race.
F1 is no stranger to racing at night. But to add even more to the weekend, the race will be held under the lights on Saturday evening, rather than the typical Sunday race day. The brand-new track spans just over 3.8 miles and weaves through famous Las Vegas icons with 17 corners and three straights.
Sergio Pérez shares honest thoughts on Las Vegas GP
The Red Bull driver was among the select few invited to the track launch last year, joined by the likes of George Russell and Lewis Hamilton. When asked about his first impressions of the track, according Firstsportz, he told the press: “It’s great to see how the fans are looking so much forward into it. Things didn’t go that well in the casinos, so not very nice memories! But other than that everything was really cool.” He further commented that he believes the event will be the ‘biggest event in the world’ in 2023′ and said “Really happy, you know. I’ve been in Vegas many times before, so it was a very enjoyable, short visit. And yeah, just looking forward, I think it’s going to be the biggest event in the world next year.”
— scheconews 📂 (@schecoarchive) August 15, 2023
Sergio recently voiced his opinions on social media, and gave a really mixed impression of the track. He commented on the layout of the track, predicting chaos at the start and uncertain events after the race due to the Saturday race instead of Sunday. He believes the weekend will be quite interesting.
How much money does Las Vegas spending on its GP track?
Formula 1 and Las Vegas are spending a total of $500 million on the Las Vegas GP track. Liberty Media, the owners of Formula 1, acquired a 39-acre site for $240m and expect to spend at least the same sum on the 3.8-mile circuit and pit, according to the Financial Times. The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) will spend $19.5 million to sponsor the race for three years.
In addition to the $500 million in construction costs, Las Vegas is also expected to spend a significant amount of money on marketing and promotion for the race. Liberty Media is promoting the race and it’s now aiming for $100M in sponsorship revenue for the inaugural edition of the race, up from its original goal of $80M, according to a source familiar with the matter.
The Las Vegas GP is a major coup for Formula 1. The race is expected to attract a large number of spectators and it will generate a significant amount of revenue for F1. The race is also expected to boost tourism in Las Vegas and it will help to position the city as a major destination for Formula 1 fans. Greg Maffei, the CEO of Liberty Media, is confident too, and says that Formula One will “make a lot of money” in the long term from the Las Vegas GP.
What do you think about the Las Vegas track layout? and do let us know your thoughts on having the race on a Saturday in the comments section down below.
