The highly-anticipated Las Vegas Grand Prix returns to the Formula 1 calendar in 2023 with a Saturday night street race for the first time since its 40-year hiatus.
Featuring a new night circuit held along the bright lights of the famous Las Vegas Strip, Sin City is gearing up to host one of the greatest race series in the world. The race is set to be a game changer for Formula 1 as it takes over the sports and entertainment capital of the world for almost an entire week.
Here’s all you need to know about the Grand Prix track set to take place under the bright lights of Vegas.
When Is The Las Vegas Grand Prix?
The Las Vegas Grand Prix will take place on Thanksgiving weekend (November 18th) of 2023. Unlike other races, which take place on a Sunday, the Las Vegas Grand Prix will take place on a Saturday night, allowing fans to experience Sin City’s legendary nightlife before and after the race.
The last time Las Vegas saw Formula 1 grace its streets was in 1982, with the Caesars Palace Grand Prix.
Its big return marks an exciting time for Formula 1, its drivers, and fans alike. In particular, US fans, where the Las Vegas Grand Prix will be the third race set in the US, following the Austin and Miami Grand Prix.
The Las Vegas Grand Prix Circuit
As Formula 1 heads to the global entertainment capital for the Las Vegas Grand Prix, a 3.8-mile, 14-turn street circuit in downtown Las Vegas awaits the drivers. (see all F1 tracks)
Much like the Miami Circuit, the Las Vegas Grand Prix will feature a street circuit that will see drivers battling it out past some of Sin City’s most famous trademarks like Caesars Palace, the Venetian, and the Bellagio.
The 3.8-mile street circuit will run counter-clockwise and feature 17 corners (revised from 14 as a result of a new chicane addition), two DRS zones, and a long 1.193-mile straight that will see drivers reach speeds of 212mph.
The track’s speed is similar to that of F1’s current fastest circuit, the Italian Grand Prix at Monza.
Formula One’s commercial rights holders, Liberty Media, recently purchased 39 acres to construct the new pit/paddock facility at the corner of Koval Lane and Harmon Avenue. This will also be the start and finish grandstands, and given that this is Las Vegas, one can only wonder how extravagant this facility will be.
Las Vegas track layout
Drivers will start on a tight hairpin corner (turn one), after which the course bends slightly left from turn two to three before moving into a fast right onto Koval Lane, where drivers will hit the first straight and changeover from the permanent circuit to city streets.
The drivers will race down a 0.50 mile straight from turn four before entering a slow 90-degree right (turn five), where they’ll drive through a long, sweeping left (turn six), which crescents the new MSG Sphere at The Venetian.
The track will then take drivers through a fast left-right corner combination on a chicane (turn seven and eight) through Sands Avenue (turn nine). Turns 10 and 11 will see drivers taking a brief straight and then a tight left-handler (turn 12). Starting from turn 12, drivers will take to Las Vegas Boulevard.
This signature section of the track will see the drivers go flat-out for 1.193 miles with two straights and a slight left, where they’ll pass several famous Las Vegas hotels and casinos. The Las Vegas Strip (turn 12 to 14) takes center stage as the main straight and one of the two DRS zones.
It has been speculated that as drivers cruise by The Venetian, Mirage, Bellagio, and Paris, they’ll reach top speeds of a whopping 212mph, but F1 drivers themselves have said this could rise to 230mph with DRS activated and slipstreams from other cars.
As drivers come up to turn 14, they’ll pass The Cosmopolitan and Planet Hollywood. Here, the circuit will move onto Harmon Avenue with a tight series of slow corners where the CityCenter complex and The Aria overlook this key corner.
After another chicane from turns 15-16, drivers will enter the final straight flat out through a fast left to the start/finish line and pits. They’ll change back to the permanent track to continue the race.
Whew! What a lap. And that’s only one of 50!
How To Get a Ticket For The 2023 Las Vegas Grand Prix
While people gear up for the Las Vegas Grand Prix in the world’s entertainment capital, there are still many questions about when tickets will go on sale and how much fans will be expected to shell out to attend. We have a detailed guide on how to get F1 Las Vegas Tickets.
However, you can still sign up on the pre-registration portal for an exclusive pre-sale event coming in October 2022 at f1lasvegasgp.com. But considering this is Las Vegas, be prepared for high ticket prices.
The Las Vegas Grand Prix Foundation has a great initiative that offers members the chance to donate $7.77 to help improve the lives of Southern Nevada residents and provide one million free meals to the local Las Vegas community.
Final Thoughts
Las Vegas and Formula 1 – the perfect marriage for an epic weekend of entertainment and a thrilling race.
It seems suitable that the Las Vegas Grand Prix will be a night race as it delivers a visual spectacle and allows fans to experience Sin City’s legendary nightlife before and after the race.
As an event with the potential to set the benchmark for all global sports and entertainment events, Formula 1 fans certainly won’t want to miss out!
