For the first time since 1982, Formula 1 will be racing under the lights in the vibrant city of Las Vegas.
It’s nothing but a match made in heaven, merging the thrills and neverending entertainment possibilities of Sin City with beautifully engineered cars that can reach speeds in excess of 300 km/h, cornering their way through the lively streets of Vegas. It will be an utter feast for the senses whether you like F1 or not.
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It will be the 3rd Grand Prix to occur in America in the 2023 season, in an effort to attract and cater to the sport’s North American audience. And what better way to draw an audience than 20 of the world's best drivers competing for the top spot on the podium through the streets of Vegas?
Formula 1 will return to Las Vegas, marking the revival of a race on the famous strip. This event follows two previous races held in the Caesars Palace car park in 1981 and 1982.
Scheduled for November, just before the US Thanksgiving holiday weekend, the Las Vegas Grand Prix promises a spectacular spectacle.
The race will unfold under the glittering lights and extravagance of the Las Vegas Strip, set to take place late on Sunday. The city’s lights will make this a unique spectacle indeed, creating a captivating atmosphere in the heart of the gambling city.
Formula 1 typically makes use of two types of tracks, street circuit and traditional circuit, both offering distinct racing experiences. Street circuits, like Monaco, Singapore and now Las Vegas, are typically set in city centers and feature narrow roads, tight corners, and very little room for error.
These tracks demand exceptional precision and control from drivers, often resulting in unpredictable races and high levels of excitement.
The smallest driver miscalculation will most likely result in a race ending collision. In contrast, traditional circuits, such as Silverstone or Monza, are purpose-built tracks with wider roads, a variety of corners, and ample run-off areas.
They allow for higher speeds and more overtaking opportunities. Each circuit type presents unique challenges, making Formula 1 a diverse and thrilling sport.
Situated in the heart of downtown Las Vegas, the fresh 6.12-kilometer, 14-turn street circuit meanders through iconic landmarks such as Caesars Palace, the Bellagio, and the Venetian. Anticipating average speeds comparable to those seen at Monza, famously dubbed F1's 'Temple of Speed,' this circuit guarantees an abundance of thrilling action and overtaking opportunities.
The Vegas track is a healthy mix of other famous tracks. For example, it has super long straights like Monza, a street circuit surrounded by casinos like Monaco, and has low speed and high speed corners like the Hungaroring.
The main challenges drivers will face in Vegas are tight corners and narrow roads. Since this is a street race and not a track built specifically for racing, drivers will need to bring their A game to avoid any race ending mistakes.
From the looks of it, the Vegas circuit will provide plenty of opportunities for drivers to show their mettle and fight for their points. The F1 community is poised to enjoy the many overtaking zones and some hotly contested wheel to wheel action under the city lights.
The cars first hit the track on Thursday, November 16th, 2023 for a practice session. The first one is scheduled for 23:30 and the second one for Friday, November 17th at 03:00. There’s also a third practice session on Friday at 23:30.
These sessions are there for drivers and their teams to attune themselves and their cars to the track, and gather data for a good race and tire strategy. The practice sessions during this particular race will be especially important since this track is new to everyone. Next up is qualifying, which is also held on Saturday, November 18th at 03:00.
Qualifying, in some respects, is just as exciting as the race itself, as drivers put themselves and their cars at the absolute limit to achieve the quickest lap times, as this will determine the starting order for the race. Finally, on Sunday, November 19th at midnight, the race is scheduled to take place. It’s expected to be a two hour spectacle where 20 drivers will battle it out on the track.
The quickest Dutchman around, and quickest driver overall if we’re being honest. Max is driving at a level above the rest at the moment, having just broken the record of races won in a row. In fact, for the Las Vegas Grand Prix, he may be poised to take the top step of the podium. With the race happening this late in the F1 season, it might mean that Max will already be champion at this stage or better yet, he might be crowned champion at the race itself.
This driver needs no introduction as he’s one of the most decorated drivers in the sport, having over 100 wins and amassing 7 championships. Ever since he narrowly missed out on the 2021 championship, Lewis has not won a race! But, one can never underestimate Lewis and Mercedes. Lewis will be set on burning some rubber on the streets of Vegas and he is sure to get his elbows out and fight for a podium spot.
Ferrari’s golden boy, Charles Leclerc took the F1 world by storm when he entered the sport in 2018. Ever since he joined Ferrari, the tifosi have adopted him as one of their own in his efforts to bring the team back to its glory days. This year hasn’t been ideal for the Monegasque driver, but you never know what can happen in Vegas.
The only Canadian driver on the grid, Stroll has had a tough go this year, especially when compared to his team mate Alonso, who has been scoring regular podiums. Lance, on the other hand, is struggling to stay within the point in some races. Let’s hope his fortunes turn around during the Las Vegas race and he can treat us to some top-tier entertainment.
Currently on a winning streak, this team has won all races this season (at the time of writing) and they are well on their way to winning their 2nd constructors championship in a row. Red Bull may already be champions by the time the Las Vegas race takes place and they are the clear favourites for this race as well. Red Bull is also set to partner with Ford in the coming years, so they are keen on a strong showing in America.
This team is unanimous with the sport. When people think of Formula 1, they think of a red F1 car speeding through the corners - specifically a Ferrari. They are the most successful and most historic team in the sport, winning a total of 16 constructors' titles and 15 driver titles. But, they have fallen on hard times since their glory days with Schumacher, their last title win being in 2008. They may not be performing at their top level this season, but F1 being the way it is, no one can say what lies in store for the Las Vegas Grand Prix.
Mercedes has deep roots within the F1 community, but they’ve had a few years out of the sport since the 50s. Their latest reentry into the sport was back in 2010, when they acquired the winning team Brawn GP. With the addition of the unstoppable force that is Lewis Hamilton, they won 7 drivers’ titles and 8 constructors’ titles consecutively - one of the most successful runs in the sport's history. The regulation change in 2022 didn't seem to suit Mercedes' strengths, as they are going through a bit of a slump. But, with their superstar pairing of driving in Russell and Hamilton, who knows if they will reach the podium under the lights in Vegas.
Full-time driver and part-time game streamer, Lando is definitely a fan favourite. Entering the F1 scene with McLaren in 2019, Lando has matured to be the team’s number one driver. Despite his undeniable talent as a driver, his first F1 victory continues to elude him. Could Vegas be the place where he finally climbs on that coveted top podium step? He narrowly missed out on his first victory in Russia 2021, when it started to rain and he refused to pit for wet tires, effectively handing the win to Hamilton. We have no doubt that Norris will eventually have victories to spare and Vegas would be the perfect place to start.
George is Mercedes’ rising star. The young driver joined the team in 2022 and secured his first race win in Brazil. People speculated about how he would handle the pressure of being paired with the record-breaking driver Hamilton, but it appears that Russell thrived in the environment. In his debut year with the team, he outperformed his teammate, finishing 4th in the drivers' championship, while Lewis finished 6th. Many see a future champion in George Russell and that may be true in the coming year. What lies in store for Russell, one can only assume.
Yuki Tsunoda is a talented Japanese Formula 1 driver who made his debut in 2021 with Scuderia AlphaTauri. Known for his fearless driving style and determination, Tsunoda quickly made an impression in the sport. Hailing from the Honda driver development program, he became the first Japanese driver in seven years to compete in Formula 1. Tsunoda's rookie season showcased his raw speed and ability to adapt to the challenges of F1. With continued growth and experience, he's already leading the AlphaTauri team, and one can only imagine what Tsunoda's future will be like when he joins a stronger team.
Wondering how to bet on the F1 Race in Las Vegas? It's easy! Here’s a step-by-step guide to follow:
Congratulations, you’re a Formula 1 bettor! Now that your wager has been placed, all that’s left to do is wait for the race to take place. Best of luck sports bettor!
At LeoVegas Sports, we offer a spectacular selection of sports betting markets on F1. When you bet with us, you know you're getting great F1 odds on several different markets. Here are some examples of F1 betting opportunities found for the Las Vegas Grand Prix:
Throughout the entire duration of the F1, we will update our race odds on the favourites as well as longer-odds selections. Verstappen should be the favourite for this race, but his teammate Sergio Perez might also be in contention for the win. You can never truly rule out drivers like Carlos Sainz, Charles Leclerc, George Russell, and of course Lewis Hamilton.
This bet involves predicting which driver will secure the pole position during the qualifying session. Even though Verstappen is the overall favourite, there’s already been some surprise pole positions this season with the likes of Lando Norris or Charles Leclerc.
Here, you wager on the driver who will set the fastest lap time during the race. Some drivers might pit in the race’s late stages to get fresh tires and attempt the fastest lap, so this can be a tricky one to predict. It really could be anyone who finishes in the top ten.
No F1 race is truly permanent, as they are renewed for a number of years on a contract basis. The Las Vegas Grand Prix will, however, be present on the race calendar until at least 2032.
It sure is, and we cannot wait to see the lightning fast cars go by under the bright city lights.
Formula 1 races typically span a weekend. The F1 Las Vegas event is scheduled for November 23, 2024, offering three days of racing action.