As the 2023 Formula One campaign continues, we’re only being reaffirmed of the pre-season expectations. Red Bull and Max Verstappen were always going to dominate the standings. Behind them, Mercedes can compete for podium spots, but difficulties continue to plague Ferrari.
Perhaps the biggest surprise, despite the noise the team was making prior to the start of the season, has been Aston Martin. They’re essentially newcomers to top-of-the-grid competitive racing, essentially usurping the Scuderia. However, F1 has one more event bound to create a few twists this season.
For the very first time, the Las Vegas Strip will be the centerpiece of a Formula One Grand Prix. Few cities in the world are as instantly-recognizable or have such a strong persona. However, given what fans bore witness to in Miami, there are, naturally, a fair few who are a tad worried about what’s being planned for Sin City.
First Sin City race since the 1980s
Just to be clear, this won’t be the first-ever F1 race in Las Vegas. In 1981 and 1982, Caesars Palace staged a street circuit race around its hotel’s car park. While it was said to be a decent track with room for overtakes, it was very poorly attended. The only two winners of the Grand Prix were Alan Jones for Williams and Michele Alboreto with Tyrrell.
The track for the 2023 Las Vegas GP is more of a traditional street circuit, comprised of 14 turns over its 3.8-mile track. Similarly to the old Caesars Palace Grand Prix, the circuit goes counter-clockwise but will last 50 laps. So, it’ll be high-speed, intense, and almost certainly be the main attraction of a lavish weekend.
This Grand Prix will go past the Caesars Forum at Turn 5, but the focus is on the run from Turn 9, through to Turn 11. This is Las Vegas Boulevard, otherwise known as “The Strip,” and will put Caesars Palace, the Bellagio Fountains, Harrah’s, Planet Hollywood, and Paris on either side of the drivers.
Bringing F1 to Las Vegas in style
Trackside. Waterfront. Center Strip. Welcome to Bellagio Fountain Club. Coming this November. https://t.co/PTOsYq1tuz #F1 #LasVegasGP pic.twitter.com/uDvH00WeJC
— F1 Las Vegas (@F1LasVegas) June 2, 2023
This year will see the F1 go to the continent-sized country of the United States three times. The US Grand Prix in Texas takes place October 22, with the November 18 meet in Las Vegas being the penultimate race. The Miami Grand Prix kicked off this America-heavy slate in May, but it certainly irked many fans and, seemingly, the racers.
Unless the backlash was registered, there’s little doubt that Las Vegas will go even bigger on the pageantry. On the one hand, it has masterfully cultivated its casino industry and has essentially become a brand of its own. It’s why when you look at blackjack games, it’s Vegas Strip, Vegas Downtown, and Vegas Single Deck that catch the eye online. However, the casino gaming side is just one element of Las Vegas.
Determined to be an overall entertainment hub of the country and even the world, the many casinos hire global superstars to hold residencies at their venues for months on end. So, as you may have expected, musicians will play a big role at the 2023 Las Vegas GP.
It’s telling that their website’s navigation reads Tickets first, Entertainment second, and Track Layout sixth. Listed among the entertainment line-up this year is J Balvin, Mark Ronson, Major Lazer, TOKiMONSTA, and Blue Man Group. While all of this may be kept separate from the track, it certainly has Miami GP vibes, especially when you consider Las Vegas’ penchant for audacious pageantry.
The Las Vegas Grand Prix should prove to be an exciting and scenic addition to the F1 calendar, but it’s tough to see the drivers not having to suffer drawn-out intros and walk-ons while trying to focus on the challenge at hand.
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