Entertainment Off the Track: Vegas’ Grand Prix Plaza

Formula 1 is one of the most thrilling sports to watch. With fast-paced racing, intense battles, and behind-the-scenes drama, there is so much to enjoy. However, those few days or weeks in between races can be challenging with no content to consume. 

Luckily for fans, Las Vegas has the perfect attraction to satiate the need for speed.

Located in the LVGP Pit Building, Grand Prix Plaza will officially open its doors to the public on May 2. This new hub offers a unique experience with exciting sights and hands-on, immersive experiences.

The Grand Prix Plaza is located in the pit building used for the iconic Las Vegas race, which only adds to the attraction's intrigue. Courtesy of Formula1.com.

F1X hosts a three-part attraction, starting with a journey through the history of the sport. Visitors will have the opportunity to see real-life F1 cars from the past, as well as artifacts that most of the public has never seen before. 

Following the historical display, fans will be able to use their creativity and bring their designs to life. With individual digital screens, the opportunities are endless for attendees to create an F1 car, along with their unique livery designs. 

These designs may not be able to physically hit the track, but they can hit the track on screen. After creating their designs, fans will be able to see their designs race on the Las Vegas strip in a virtual 4D experience. 

Not only can they race on the strip, but they will also be in charge of their own strategy and pit wall decisions, giving them a feel for what happens away from the wheel. 

If video games aren’t your thing, don’t worry. It may not be a real F1 car, but the plaza also houses a karting track inspired by part of the Vegas circuit. These aren’t just any typical go-karts; they’re designed after F1 cars and fashioned with DRS technology and controls. If that isn’t enough to feel authentic, drivers will even get real-time radio messages from a virtual engineer.

Guests will be able to drive on a karting track partially designed to replicate the Vegas circuit. Courtesy of Grandprixplaza.com.

There are different levels for those who might want a less intense experience as opposed to high-speed thrills. Guests will have a choice between mixed grid, elite experience, and a special fastest lap option that is available to purchase on-site only. 

Each of these packages has special features added on, but the elite experience seems the most extensive. With a qualifying, timed race, instant lap times and track positions, and even a podium finish for the top 3 finishers, it has everything needed to replicate the feeling of a real-life race.

With all of these amazing attractions, guests will likely need a break from all of the excitement. Luckily, the F1 Hub is the perfect place to go, with food options, simulators, and a chance to shop exclusive merchandise.

F1 fans are no strangers to the simulators. Drivers themselves even use them, although they are an upgraded version compared to the ones available to the public. Fun for the entire family, the sims are a great way to sit down and race on the iconic circuits.

When guests need to refuel, the dining space offers a variety of cuisine, as well as drinks and sweet treats to enjoy. All of this can be experienced while watching unforgettable moments from the sport on large screens in the area, showcasing just how much there is to Formula 1.

It wouldn’t be an attraction without shopping, and there will be much to choose from in the retail section of the Grand Prix Plaza. There will be exclusive event merch, as well as actual F1 team gear and pieces from the Las Vegas Grand Prix collection for shoppers to purchase.

There will be a variety of different pieces to choose from in the shopping section of the hub, from Vegas exclusives to F1 team merch. Courtesy of Grandprixplaza.com.

This attraction is unlike anything done before, with so many different avenues to explore. There is no better place to open than in Las Vegas, home to an iconic track.

While it won’t open until May, there is no doubt that it will be bustling with fans in a few short months. Tickets can be bought for each package, but guests can also buy a VIP add-on to enhance their experience.

The opening of the Grand Prix Plaza marks the beginning of attractions like this. If the launch performs well, it opens the door to creating even more experiences like these for fans across the world. 

Edited by Reese Dlabach