Incredible in Las Vegas: drivers complain of a “strong smell of marijuana”. A “strong smell of marijuana” permeating the Las Vegas paddock.

Madness in the Las Vegas night: drivers complain about a “strong smell of marijuana” around the F1 circuit. A curious detail adds to the eccentric and excessive atmosphere of Sin City in its second year in the Circus. Amid jokes and amused remarks to the media, some foresee the first complaints, while Franco Colapinto admits: “If they tested us now, we’d all come out positive.”

The second edition of the Las Vegas Grand Prix in this new iteration begins in the desert’s nighttime chill. The temperatures are extremely low—starkly contrasting with what we might see next week in Qatar—making tire compound management very challenging. Grip and warm-up issues resurface this year after concerns in 2023.

While Mercedes shines in single-lap performance but struggles with race pace, and Ferrari does the opposite, the paddock’s attention has been caught by an unusual detail: the smell of marijuana—which has been legal for recreational use in Nevada since 2017—lingering everywhere around the circuit. Amid jokes and lighthearted comments, it could become a topic for discussion.

F1 and marijuana: in Las Vegas, the smell is “everywhere”

The first to point it out was Sergio Perez, interviewed by the media after Free Practice: “The smell of marijuana around the circuit is really strong, all night long. I’m already fed up with it; the amount is incredible. All the drivers will definitely talk about it.”

There are certainly no risks associated with the effects this “cannabis smell” might have on the drivers, but some complaints might still arise. Meanwhile, Franco Colapinto jokes: “Yes, there was a smell of weed. If they tested the drivers now, I think we’d all test positive, I swear.”