F1 in Las Vegas: All you need to know about the showdown on The Strip

Harry Smith
Thursday 12 October 2023 15:55 - Updated: 15:55

2023 is a revolutionary year for Formula 1 in the United States - with the focal point being the first ever Las Vegas Grand Prix.

When the race on the famous Strip debuts on the F1 calendar in November, we may be looking at an event which can finally hold a candle to the glitz and the glamour that Monaco offers up every May.

Of course, motorsport and America go hand-in-hand. Between NASCAR and IndyCar, the country has an esteemed history at the top end of motorsport, and now F1 is firmly in the mix as America’s favourite racing series.

Since acquiring Formula 1 in 2016, Liberty Media has placed much prominence on breaking into the American market, starting by adding the Miami Grand Prix to the calendar in 2022.

The United States will host three races in 2023 with the pioneering Las Vegas Grand Prix joining trips to the streets of Miami and the Circuit of the Americas on the F1 calendar.

Las Vegas’ inaugural Grand Prix has a fitting place on the 2023 schedule too, serving as the penultimate round of the championship prior to the now-traditional season closer in Abu Dhabi.

Witnessing F1 cars flying down the Las Vegas Strip will be an occasion not to be missed.

What are the dates for the F1 race in Las Vegas

The weekend schedule for the 2023 Las Vegas Grand Prix has already been revealed, and it is interesting/crazy depending on your point of view.

The inaugural event will kick off with a star-studded opening ceremony on Wednesday, November 15, at 7:30pm local time.

Then on Thursday, November 16, the action starts with FP1 at 8:30pm local time (11:30pm on the East Coast, 4:30am Friday in the UK, 5:30am Friday CET), followed by FP2 at 12:00am (3:00am Friday on the East Coast, 8:00am UK, 9:00am CET).

The timings will be the same on Friday, November 17, with FP3 scheduled to start at 8:30pm local time ahead of the late qualifying session at 12:00am on Saturday.

For the first time in 38 years, a Formula 1 Grand Prix will be held on a Saturday, with the lights set to go out at 10:00pm local time on Saturday, November 18. That is 1:00am on Sunday, November 19, on the East Coast of the United States, 6:00am in the UK, and 7:00am CET.

F1 Vegas tickets: Prices and how to buy

The Las Vegas Grand Prix will be one of the hottest events on the 2023 Formula 1 calendar, and tickets are flying off the shelves.

If you haven't bought your tickets yet, don't wait any longer! Head to the F1 Tickets website to secure your place at the inaugural Las Vegas Grand Prix.

As of October 2023, three-day packages are the only remaining tickets available via the official F1 Tickets website. The Hospitality costs €7824.71, while Grandstand SG1 costs €1,893,11.

However, there are still some Grandstand tickets available on the Las Vegas official website for purchase. Three-day passes start at $2,000, and they all include complimentary food, water, and soft drinks to enjoy under the bright lights of Vegas.

If you don’t have a spare few thousand dollars on hand but are still hoping to attend the Las Vegas Grand Prix, then you may be in luck.

F1 has revealed that it plans to make more $500 general admission tickets available for purchase in the coming months, although there are no concrete release dates as of yet.

Las Vegas GP track and layout

Ahead of the 2023 Las Vegas Grand Prix, Formula 1 has revealed the track layout for this year’s street race.

The circuit measures 3.8 miles long (6.12km) with 17 corners with the drivers set to clock up 50 laps around the streets of Las Vegas on Saturday night’s race.

F1’s current circuit plans for the 2023 Las Vegas Grand Prix will make the circuit the third-longest on the calendar with only the Jeddah Corniche Circuit and legendary Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps exceeding this 6.12km layout.

The current start-finish straight will be built upon what is currently a disused car park with a grandstand, paddock and pit lane set to be constructed before November’s event.

As the cars leave their grid slots they’ll navigate the circuit counter-clockwise, heading into the Turn 1 hairpin before a sweeping right-hander takes the drivers to the first main straight, past the MSG Sphere.

Then comes a 90-degree right-hander before the twisty Turn 6-9 complex, followed by a winding trip down Sands Avenue.

The drivers will then make their way down the world-famous Las Vegas Strip, passing The Mirage and Caesars Palace before a tricky chicane sends the drivers down Harmon Avenue and to the end of the lap.

READ MORE: Las Vegas Grand Prix confirms additional on-sale ticket dates