Formula 1 is coming to Vegas — here’s everything you need to know
After a 40-year absence, Formula 1 racing is returning to Las Vegas.
From Nov. 16-18, the famous Strip will temporarily transform into a racetrack for the inaugural Las Vegas Grand Prix. Here’s everything you need to know about Formula 1 and the race.
What is Formula 1?
Formula 1, also called F1, is an international auto racing organization that hosts races throughout the year. The Formula 1 2023 season consists of 23 races, with the finale held in Abu Dhabi on Nov. 26.
An F1 race is a three-day event, with two days of practice and qualifiers before the actual race is held. Qualifying events determine the starting position of each driver on the track.
Each F1 race includes 10 teams of two drivers each. The number of laps they drive around the track varies from circuit to circuit. The Las Vegas track is 6.201 kilometers long, and the teams will complete 50 laps for a total race distance of 310.05 kilometers.
F1 has a variety of circuits, making every race a new challenge. The Las Vegas Grand Prix track is under construction, per Fox News. It will occupy a section of Las Vegas Boulevard, more commonly known as the Strip, and will take race cars through the city’s downtown.
What is the difference between Formula 1 and NASCAR?
Formula 1 differs from NASCAR in several ways. While NASCAR is an American organization, Formula 1 has an international reach, and the two operate in distinct manners.
For instance, F1 is open-wheel racing, meaning its cars have wheels outside the car’s main body and generally have only one seat. NASCAR uses cars built for racing, but they have the same general structure as production models.
The races also use different tracks. NASCAR races take place on oval tracks, whereas F1 circuits are irregular in shape and vary based on the location of each race.
F1 has been growing in popularity within the United States, per NBC. In 2019, Netflix released a popular documentary series called “Drive to Survive” that may have contributed to the sport’s growth in the American market.
How much will F1 tickets in Vegas cost?
While general admission tickets are sold out, grandstand seating and premium club seats are available on the race’s website. Tickets for Practice 1 and 2 start at $218, while tickets for the race itself start at $1,300.
Anyone visiting Las Vegas in October or November 2023 should expect road closures, according to the race’s official website.
If you can’t make it to Las Vegas in person, you can watch the race on television. ESPN has exclusive rights to broadcast Formula 1 and will show every session of this season’s races, including the Las Vegas Grand Prix.
What is the schedule for the Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix?
The opening ceremony will be held Wednesday, Nov. 15, at 7:30 p.m. Pacific time, according to the F1 official calendar.
On Thursday, Nov. 16, Practice 1 will go from 8:30–9:30 p.m. and Practice 2 will go from midnight to 1 a.m. Practice 3 will be held on Friday, Nov. 17, from 8:30–9:30 p.m.
Qualifying will also be held Friday night from midnight to 1 a.m.
The Las Vegas Grand Prix race will commence at 10 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 18.
