F1: Will Las Vegas Grand Prix live up to the hype?
F1: Too Much Hype??
Will the Las Vegas Grand Prix live up to the hype? F1 Racing will head to the Las Vegas Grand Prix for the first time in over 40 years.
The popular Netflix show Drive to Survive opened up a new demographic for the Formula 1 series, which was something that American F1 owner Liberty Media wanted to take advantage of by increasing the popularity of the sport in the United States. They planned to achieve this by adding a new race to the already existing one in Austin, starting with a race in Miami, which was a perfect example of the kind of “destination cities” that F1 wanted to target. Although the 2022 race at Miami Gardens wasn’t particularly memorable in terms of racing, the 2023 race provided better entertainment to match the off-track glitz and glamour that delighted masses of celebrities and VIPs.
12oz Sports on Twitter: “Las Vegas F1 Track 👀 #F1 #F12023 pic.twitter.com/sjr5m0xbQJ / Twitter”
Las Vegas F1 Track 👀 #F1 #F12023 pic.twitter.com/sjr5m0xbQJ
While racing around the Miami Dolphins stadium was a step towards establishing a foothold in the US, F1’s decision to move to Las Vegas was a completely different story.
Liberty Media had always dreamed of F1 racing in Vegas and went to unprecedented lengths to promote the event itself and even buy a plot of land near the famous Strip to construct a permanent pit and paddock facility.
Tons of Expenses
F1 has reportedly spent over half a billion dollars on the event, which they plan to host until at least 2032, demonstrating just how confident they are about the event’s long-term success.
The excitement generated by the upcoming race in Las Vegas has outdone even the buzz surrounding Miami, and it’s easy to see why. F1 has managed to incorporate a 2km section of the Strip into its 6.2km street course, which has been approved for closure by the city council during the race.
Track Layout in Question
Autosport on Twitter: “Max Verstappen gets honest on why he thinks F1 is visiting Las Vegas later this month 👀#F1 #LasVegasGP pic.twitter.com/2DvYMeoVEG / Twitter”
Max Verstappen gets honest on why he thinks F1 is visiting Las Vegas later this month 👀#F1 #LasVegasGP pic.twitter.com/2DvYMeoVEG
Although the track layout itself may not be particularly impressive and may not attract attention elsewhere, the sight of 20 F1 cars speeding past iconic locations such as the Bellagio, the MGM Grand, and the new MSG Sphere at night will provide spectacular imagery for F1.
This is a remarkable achievement by F1, especially when compared to the twisty Caesars Palace car park layout used in the 1980s. Regardless of the outcome of the race, this demonstrates F1’s power and influence in 2023.
New Asphalt, High Prices
The county is also counting on the success of this “billion dollar” event to justify the $40 million spent on repaving the Strip and to appease local residents who have been inconvenienced by long disruptions in the recent past.
But attending F1’s own version of the Superbowl can be quite expensive for fans.
When the sales opened, the general admission tickets were priced at $500 USD, which includes food and beverages. Meanwhile, grandstand tickets for Sunday range from $1,155 to $1,760 for a single day, while weekend tickets cost around $3,000. Additionally, securing a hotel room near the circuit is also quite expensive, but the prices have fortunately decreased recently.
The lowest-priced tickets start at $165, which are for the opening ceremony on Wednesday. Although it features a variety of artists, there are no cars involved.
Not a Traditional Fanbase
This indicates that the event itself, which takes place in the sports and entertainment capital of the US, is not aimed at F1’s traditional fan base watching on TV. This divide was already evident from the exaggerated prices in Miami.
Ironically, the start of the 10 pm local race and the midnight qualifying session, which are palatable for EU and Asian audiences, will be the most difficult for the majority of the US population, which lives on the East Coast three hours ahead.
Cheaper to Watch Overseas
For those Americans who want to watch F1 live, it is less expensive to fly to a race in Europe than to endure the cold, with temperatures around 8C or 45F expected at this time of the year.
With the Vegas race scheduled for one week later in 2024, it remains to be seen how many people attended solely to be there and be seen during the inaugural race, and how many will actually return next year at current prices.
Andrew Vasquez on Twitter: “I’m just casually driving down the Las Vegas GP circuit 🏎️💨 pic.twitter.com/66WrXYRMqb / Twitter”
I’m just casually driving down the Las Vegas GP circuit 🏎️💨 pic.twitter.com/66WrXYRMqb
They might just do so if they witness an incredible spectacle, as inflated prices often come with inflated expectations.
When it comes to on-track action, the cold doesn’t have to be entirely negative. The 2023 season, which many fans feel has already overstayed its welcome, could benefit from a bit of chaos to raise the stakes.
Track Limits not a Concern
The good news is that the narrow street circuit in Vegas means that F1’s strict track limits won’t be much of a concern, as any runoff would lead straight into a luxurious casino lobby. However, the cold weather could pose a challenge for tire warm-up, which could add an element of unpredictability to the race. If the race is straightforward, Red Bull is expected to dominate, but the low grip levels on the new track combined with other unknown factors could throw a curveball and mix up the order of the teams, much like in Singapore in 2023 when the dominant team was unexpectedly defeated.
No Support Races
Additionally, there will be no support races to help increase the grip levels on the new tarmac, which means that there will be significant changes to the track conditions throughout the weekend. The return of F1 to Las Vegas could be a significant boost to the sport, which has seen a drop in interest and ratings since Max Verstappen’s overwhelming victory in 2023, but it could be just as challenging to maintain as it was to establish.
Bigger than Miami?
F1 and its stakeholders are making every effort to promote Vegas even more than Miami, which is understandable. However, there is a risk that if an event is hyped up too much, it will fail to meet expectations. Unlike Miami, which had the illusion of a championship battle, both titles have already been decided. Therefore, Vegas will need to do more than just offer beautiful pictures and excellent hospitality to justify the excitement.