The organizers of the upcoming Las Vegas Grand Prix have made a bold commitment that the F1 race scheduled for November “will stand as the most significant global event of 2023.”
This year’s calendar features an impressive trio of races set in the United States, with Miami and COTA being joined by the addition of a new event in Las Vegas for the 2023 Formula 1 season.
Following the triumph of reigning World Champion Max Verstappen, who secured victory from the ninth spot on the grid in Florida earlier in May, the United States Grand Prix at the Circuit of the Americas, a fixture in the schedule since 2012, is scheduled for October 22. The Las Vegas round is then positioned as the penultimate race of the F1 campaign, taking place on November 18.
Anticipated to surpass even the Super Bowl in prominence, the Las Vegas Grand Prix’s arrival is a mere three months away, as the preparations intensify for a circuit that will encompass a segment of the iconic Strip. Coupled with a nearly finished permanent pit-and-paddock facility, the event’s setup is well underway.
During a recent presentation of the Las Vegas Grand Prix alongside F1’s chief executive and former Ferrari boss Stefano Domenicali, Steve Hill, the CEO of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, conveyed his enthusiasm for the forthcoming event. He also unveiled that the foundation for the race was initially established by Stefano Domenicali’s predecessor, Chase Carey, as far back as four years ago.
“He came to Vegas and said we’re interested in doing this. I was interested – I wasn’t disinterested – and then they reached back out during the pandemic. I started to watch Drive to Survive as kind of homework, I felt like I needed to learn more about this sport. I saw what was there and thought: ‘Wow, this is something.’
“I went to Austin in 2021 and you see what that does: it overwhelms Austin, it’s crazy, and it’s out in a field and it’s still such a big event. You see it there and see what that can be to Las Vegas and you think this is going to be something.” – he added.
“You’re not going to have a bigger event in Las Vegas than F1. We have Super Bowl three months after Formula 1 – Super Bowl, from an execution point of view, is easier because it’s all built. But there’s still a lot to do. Most cities don’t try and pull off both those in that period of time. There’s a lot going on in Las Vegas but Formula 1 will stand out.” – he pointed out.
Mr. Hill provided insight into the complexities of constructing a premier F1 track along the streets of Las Vegas. He also reassured both local residents and fans that the race’s organization will see enhancements over time.
“We have done most of the paving; the entire circuit has all the initial asphalt lifts laid. When that paving was happening in front of the properties that was pretty disruptive, but it was pretty short, they did sections, so for a couple of weeks it was painful, and it’ll last five or 10 years.
“We’re building a bridge over the circuit right now, over one of our main highways, to make sure we have access to the hotels, it’s a spectacular undertaking. It’s going to get better every year.” – he concluded.
Leave a Reply