May 16, 2024
Las Vegas Grand Prix 2023: A quick guide to this weekend’s Formula 1 race
The Las Vegas Grand Prix is here.
Formula 1 returns to Nevada for the first time in 40 years with a new street track around the Las Vegas Strip, with drivers racing between the city’s most iconic spots.
Vegas will have it all, from a star-studded opening ceremony to a wedding chapel on site.
Here’s what you need to know…
Which landmarks does the Las Vegas circuit take in?
The start line and run from Turn One to Turn Four have been developed into a permanent race area, which will include a pit building, garages and team areas.
From there, the track leads on to the straight down Koval Lane, followed by turns around MSG Sphere – Vegas’ new immersive music and entertainment arena.
Down Sands Avenue, drivers will pass the Venetian Resort before they turn into the star of the show – the Las Vegas Strip, which is home to Harrah’s, The Mirage, Caesars Palace, Paris Las Vegas and Bellagio.
Another couple of turns lead to the final straight on East Harmon Avenue.
What sort of track do we expect it to be?
Cold and quick, basically.
“Temperature is the first parameter we evaluate, and at the end of November the desert at night will be quite cold,” Pirelli’s motorsport director Mario Isola told Bloomberg.
Because of that, Pirelli will be providing its softest tyre compounds to the teams.
And Isola expects the track to be “very fast”.
“We are expecting a high speed straight away – very high speed,” he said.
The race will take place over 50 laps.
What time will the Las Vegas Grand Prix start?
The night race is set to be a glamourous one in Nevada, but that means anyone following in the UK faces an early start.
The race will begin at 10pm local time on Saturday, which is 6am on Sunday in the UK.
| Session | Local time | UK time |
|---|---|---|
| First practice | 20:30, Thursday | 04:30 GMT, Friday |
| Second practice | 00:00, Friday | 08:00 GMT, Friday |
| Third practice | 20:30, Friday | 04:30 GMT, Saturday |
| Qualifying | 00:00, Saturday | 08:00 GMT, Saturday |
| Race | 22:00, Saturday | 06:00 GMT, Sunday |
What’s happening at the opening ceremony?
A star-studded opening ceremony will be staged on the starting grid on Wednesday.
There will be performances from iconic names in the music industry, including Kylie Minogue, will.i.am, Journey, Swedish House Mafia and Thirty Seconds to Mars.
All 20 drivers will be at the ceremony, which will also feature a state-of-the-art lighting display with 1,000 lights and 100 lasers, fireworks and a curated drone show.
The opening ceremony will be available to watch worldwide on the F1 YouTube channel.
How can I follow the race?
The BBC Sport website and app will provide its usual live text service of every session this weekend. This will also feature the BBC Radio 5 Live commentary, which is also available on BBC Sounds.
Sky Sports will broadcast all sessions live.
