I've Traveled the World for F1 Races — Here's Why Las Vegas Is the One to Book Now for 2024

There are few places that put on a show quite like Vegas — and when it's done right, F1 is one of the most spectacular sporting shows out there.

There’s no doubt that building a vacation around a sporting event adds an extra level of excitement to any trip, an insight which certainly wasn’t lost on me when traveling to see Formula 1 make its much-anticipated return to Las Vegas for the first time since 1982. Unlike going to see a football, basketball, or baseball game, F1 is, in most cases, a three-day event and offers a great opportunity to explore a new city — or even a new country.

Flying in from Los Angeles, just a one-hour flight away, I was among the F1 fans with one of the shortest journeys to the race. Anticipating airport crowds, I opted to fly with semi-private airline JSX, with their separate terminal and private security function meaning I could arrive as late as 30 minutes before takeoff. I landed before 8 a.m., and my taxi took me directly to Aria, crossing the same streets that would later be closed off to create the Las Vegas track where the world’s best drivers would hit speeds of over 200 MPH as they tore down the famous Strip.

Walking into the Aria, I was greeted by the Alfa Romeo F1 car from 2022 in the main lobby, surrounded by a small fleet of the Italian carmaker’s sleek road cars along with interactive games and a great pop-up boutique for merchandise. Following the previous night’s dramatic practice sessions, Las Vegas seemed strangely quiet, but within a matter of hours, you could feel the buzz quickly building — the casino floors becoming awash with Ferrari red, Aston Martin green and McLaren orange as fans sported their favorite team's colors. Having traveled to see numerous Grand Prix race weekends from Yas Marina in Abu Dhabi to Silverstone in England, Las Vegas immediately felt different to my previous experiences. Being a street race, you feel that you are totally immersed in F1 everywhere you go — there are even parts of the track that you can walk during the day to really soak up the atmosphere.

As the sun set and the bright lights began to light the sky, race fever met the energy of Vegas as race fans poured onto the elevated walkways linking the hotels along the strip, moving between iconic venues to sample some of the unique experiences organized by the different hotels. One of my favorites was the Shoey Bar, inspired by the celebrations of Australian driver Daniel Ricciardo. Set on a balcony overlooking the Eiffel Tower Restaurant, it offered guests the unique chance to drink a Red Bull margarita out of an Italian handmade leather driving shoe while being filmed by a 360-degree camera atop a podium.

Set in the heart of the long straight which stretched over a mile down the Strip was the Bellagio Fountain Club, a destination which will no doubt become a future icon of the Las Vegas Grand Prix. Constructed on top of the water that feeds the famous fountain, the Fountain Club was the place to see and be seen at its inaugural Grand Prix, and MGM pulled out all the stops to offer a viewing, dining, and drinking experience like no other. With nightly appearances from some of the world’s most celebrated chefs set up to cook at centerpiece open kitchens, there was no shortage of signature dishes on offer. The timing of the Las Vegas Grand Prix even coincided with white truffle season, much to the delight of chef Michael Mina. Complete with an open-roof bar boasting spectacular race views and a boat delivering Champagne and caviar, it was easy to see why the hottest ticket in town was sold out. This year's BFC bookings should become available in early 2024, sources at MGM say.

The beauty of a street race like this is that it can be enjoyed from so many different places, from the Paddock Club — where you can gain access to walk the pit lane and enjoy rooftop open bars with views of the start and finish lines — plus VIP pit lane restaurant pop-ups like Catch, and restaurants along the strip which are fortunate enough to have a location offering diners a spectacular track view.

At the Cosmopolitan, the opening of the newest edition of LPM Restaurant & Bar coincided with race week, offering guests the opportunity to dine on its terrace while hearing the iconic sound of the F1 cars as they watched the drivers enter the corner at the end of the Strip straight. Important tip: Be sure to book your restaurant experiences in advance, especially if you are hoping for a race view.

I’ve never found myself short of options when visiting Las Vegas, and we were arguably even more spoiled for choice during race week than normal, with numerous takeover parties competing with traditional grandstand options. Sports Illustrated set up Club SI on the former premises of Margaritaville to throw a lavish party hosted by Shaquille O’Neal and David Beckham, complete with F1 race car ice sculptures chilling jumbo shrimp and an endless supply of beef wellington.

We all know there are few places that put on a show quite like Vegas, and prior to the race, leading driver Max Verstappen complained that the Las Vegas Grand Prix would be “99% show, 1% sport." However, when Verstappen stepped out of his car onto the winner's stage to celebrate becoming Las Vegas’ 2023 Grand Prix winner in front of a spectacular fountain and fireworks show, he did so wearing an Elvis-inspired race suit as spectators lauded it as one of the best races of the season. We shouldn’t be surprised, after all. When it is done right, F1 is one of the most spectacular sporting shows out there.

Want to secure a spot for Nov. 21-23, 2024? Deposits are already being accepted at f1lasvegasgp.com.

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