For the first time in 40 years, Formula One returns to the bright lights of Las Vegas, racing down the iconic strip at the entertainment capital of the world.
This race is very exciting to all the drivers, because it has never been raced, and every driver will be learning the track on the go. This marks the third race in the United States, with Miami being added to the calendar last year. The drivers being new to the track and having to learn it as well. The other race in the United States is the Circuit of the Americas, which is located in Austin, Texas, and has been on the calendar since 2012.
Back in 2017 during an interview with Daniel Ricciardo, he stated that the one place he would love to race was Las Vegas. This sparked much thought into the fact that Formula One could race in Vegas actually, and 6 years later, it is finally happening.
Many fans were disappointed at the start of the season though, because Daniel Ricciardo lost his seat with McLaren at the end of 2022. The fans thought that he wouldn’t get the opportunity to race at his dream track, but with the early departure of Nyck DeVries 10 races into the season, he now has his seat In AlphaTauri and will be racing there.
Not a single driver is upset with this new venue though, which is quite surprising for a new track. However, many drivers are nervous about the addition of new tracks, as the old tracks that have been raced at for many years might lose their spot on the calendar.
The more tracks that get added to the calendar, adds more races to the season and makes the season longer, which means that a track is bound to eventually lose its place.
Lewis Hamilton stated his thoughts on the addition of Vegas saying, “Yeah, I think it’s amazing that we bridge the relationship that we have now, three races on one continent; I think that’s going to be awesome. I think it’ll be good for the business and think Vegas will be an awesome addition. I have not seen the track layout so I don’t really know how that will be but just being there and the spectacle and I imagine it probably will be a night race, another night race maybe. Yeah, we welcome it.”
Daniel Ricciardo stated, “I love getting to a new track and yeah, trying to just master it quicker than the others. So there is definitely some enjoyment and satisfaction from going to a new venue, so I’m all for it.”
The best quote coming from George Russell was, “It’s just I mean, it’s going to be mental for everybody there and yeah, just good for the sport. So I’m sure a lot of people in the paddock are happy it’s a Saturday night race. They’ll be hitting the town on Sunday morning. Just walking down the strip, there was music playing and there was just a really cool vibe there. And I’ve already got a feel for the place. So I’m sure with F1 being there, racing on the strip, it’s going to be insane.”
Even though the drivers are quite happy about this race, the locals are quite the opposite. Due to the construction and repavement of the roads, many businesses have been blocked off from the road, meaning they are losing their only source of income. The traffic has become so bad in Vegas, that many of the locals have been enraged because of the absurd amount of time it takes them to travel. The top cause for anger for the residents was the $2.3 Billion dollars spent to build the track around the Entertainment capital of the world.
This race is very different for a multiple number of reasons, a couple of them include:
- It is the latest F1 race ever, starting at 10 P.M. Vegas time.
- It will be around 50 degrees Fahrenheit, making it one of the coldest races since the 1978 Canadian Grand Prix, which was 41 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Pirelli has made a new set of tires specifically for this race, a very soft tire compound(Much like the Super-Softs) the FIA allowed in the past. Pirelli made these tires for this race because they will warm up very fast, which will be needed because of the temperature.
As a fan, I can say that everyone looks forward to this race. If you’re watching it on TV, from the grandstands in Vegas, or even from a hotel balcony looking over the track, it will be a sight to see.
The schedule goes as this followed:
Local Time Eastern Time
November 16th – Free Practice 1: 20:30 23:30
November 17th – Free Practice 2: 00:00 03:00
November 17th – Free Practice 3: 20:30 23:30
November 18th – Qualifying: 00:00 03:00
November 18th – Race 50 laps: 22:00 01:00
