The Las Vegas Grand Prix marked the third chapter of Formula 1’s night race on the Strip, an event that finally seems to have found the right balance between the city’s dazzling excess and the sporting needs of the championship. Back in 2023, the atmosphere had been suffocating, with drivers dragged into ceremonies lasting until three in the morning. Lando Norris summed it up with a sigh: “I think it was too much for everyone. We might as well have been performing in Cirque du Soleil with what we were doing then.”
In 2024, the organizers overcorrected and made the event almost too restrained. This year, however, they brought back the Las Vegas madness in more reasonable doses, allowing the drivers to focus on the racing. Carlos Sainz expressed clear relief: “I didn’t enjoy the first year, with the manholes flying and F1 trying too hard to look like Vegas. Since then, I think F1 reacted and put together a more standard event, which always works. And since last year, to be honest, I’ve enjoyed Las Vegas quite a lot.”
Even Max Verstappen, who had heavily criticized the event two years ago, softened his stance: “I still like being in Vegas, but personally I’m less of a showman. That’s not who I am. But I get it, it’s part of the calendar. If you’re in Vegas, it has to be this way.”
The return of the show, but with more control
The Las Vegas GP regained its unique flair without overdoing it, turning the weekend into an irresistible blend of racing and entertainment. At the entrance, a giant 15-meter neon sign reading “Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas” towered over the paddock, while a bright pink chapel hosted express weddings officiated by Elvis Presley impersonators for fans looking to celebrate.
Reactions from the paddock were overwhelmingly positive. Lando Norris summed up the general feeling: “Two years ago we hated coming here, now it’s completely different. We’re all much happier.” George Russell compared the evolution to a complete transformation: “From 2023 to now, it’s like night and day. They finally treat us like F1 drivers and not circus performers.” Verstappen reiterated his pragmatic attitude: “I’m someone who just wants to drive; the show isn’t my priority. But I fully understand that in Vegas you need some craziness, otherwise there’s no point in being here.”
The problems that still haunt the Las Vegas GP
Despite the improvements, two major issues hung over the Las Vegas weekend: the track surface and the overall quality of the circuit. The asphalt on the Strip drew harsh criticism for its extreme bumpiness, poor grip and difficulty in getting the tyres up to temperature.
Fernando Alonso did not mince his words: “I think the asphalt type is not at Formula 1 standards, to be honest. It’s too slippery, we can’t bring the tyres into temperature, there’s no grip, and it’s extremely bumpy, close to unsafe for racing. For the future, we need to talk with the FIA about whether this is acceptable or not.” Sainz partly agreed, noting a slight improvement in grip compared to last year, but concluded: “These new bumps make driving the car much tougher. I hope they look into it next year.”
The weather didn’t help either, with cold, rain and an overall unpleasant climate making the day difficult for both drivers and fans. Norris observed: “If it were a bit warmer, I think everyone would enjoy the weekend more. Even for the fans, it’s not nice to sit all day in the cold under the rain. If it could be moved, I’m sure everyone would prefer it.”
The biggest challenge of Las Vegas: the calendar
The other heavily debated issue was the calendar. For the second consecutive year, the Las Vegas GP opened a brutal triple-header with Qatar and Abu Dhabi, involving 17-hour flights and 13-hour time zone jumps compressed into ten days.
Alonso was blunt: “It’s difficult for us to come here with the time zone, and how far it is from Europe and from Brazil two weeks ago, and now we go straight to Qatar. It’s inhuman, and I don’t think any other sport in the world would accept it.” He continued: “It’s not like we go to Monaco in February just because it’s quiet. There are certain things we need to think about for the sport first.”
Sainz, speaking directly with Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali, insisted: “What the reasons are for not being able to move it on the calendar, I don’t know. But I couldn’t agree more that a Las Vegas–Qatar–Abu Dhabi triple-header for the second year in a row is not good for anyone.”
The future under discussion
Talks about the 2026 Las Vegas Grand Prix are already underway, with Domenicali gathering the drivers on Saturday evening and promising concrete solutions: “We are studying every possibility; we want a more humane end to the season.” The ten-year contract with Clark County sets the race for the weekend before Thanksgiving, turning a dead period into gold for the city, but it doesn’t rule out adjustments such as shifting Qatar and Abu Dhabi later into December, or pairing Las Vegas with Brazil and adding a rest week before the Middle Eastern races.
Alonso dismissed the idea of Las Vegas being fixed because it’s a “quiet weekend”: “It’s because it’s a dead weekend of the year here, but I don’t think that’s a solid argument.”
Sainz proposed the most logical solution: “The most logical thing would be to place Las Vegas near Brazil, same time zone, and then give a full week of rest before Qatar and Abu Dhabi. That would save everyone’s health.”
The 2025 edition proved that Las Vegas can mature without losing its irresistible charm: the show is there, drivers are smiling more, and fans are filling the grandstands with growing enthusiasm. Yet the substandard asphalt and the exhausting triple-header remain open wounds, issues that Formula 1 must urgently address if it wants this race to become a true must-watch event for generations to come.
Bottom line: Las Vegas 2025 proved the event can be spectacular without being exhausting. Now Liberty and the FIA just need to sort the track surface and the calendar – or risk drivers voting with their feet.
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