On Sunday, Formula 1 will hit the track for the final American round of the season in Las Vegas. This marks the third edition of the spectacular Grand Prix hosted by the iconic “Sin City.”
The circuit runs through the heart of the city along the famous Las Vegas Strip, home to luxurious hotels and world-famous casinos. Featuring 17 corners and three long straights that demand maximum power from the power units, the track presents a significant challenge. Like in the previous two editions, the race will take place at night (though start times have been moved earlier), with low temperatures playing a major role and creating challenges for both teams and drivers.
Temperature charts indicate very low thermal stress, particularly due to the cold conditions expected. The right-side tires will face slightly more strain due to the anti-clockwise layout of the circuit, while the left-side tires are more stressed in turns three and four. Pirelli has confirmed last year’s choice, offering teams the C3, C4, and C5 compounds to optimize tire performance in the cold and promote the right grip levels.
As with every street circuit, expected grip levels are low and highly variable over the weekend. Additionally, Las Vegas is surrounded by the Mojave Desert, meaning initial grip will be further reduced due to sand blown onto the track by the wind.
As the charts show, tire wear is expected to be very low, but proper tire management remains a key factor. In cold conditions, achieving and maintaining the correct tire temperature window will be difficult, increasing the risk of graining.
Overtaking is facilitated by the long straights, but securing a good starting position remains important for managing tire performance. Weather conditions and the limited runoff areas must also be considered, as they could bring out a safety car and make pit stop strategies even more valuable.
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