Bright lights and casino nights are about to return to the world of Formula 1 once again. The Las Vegas Grand Prix will make its second appearance on the Formula 1 calendar, and the anticipation leading up to the weekend is building by the minute.
It is one of the most unique races, especially because of the circuit itself. It’s not a typical street circuit, as it is directly on the Vegas Strip. For a city that never sleeps, it’s the perfect place to host high-speed racing at night.
The Las Vegas Grand Prix 2023. Courtesy of Red Bull Content Pool/Getty Images.
The track runs along incredible sights such as the Bellagio Fountains, the Sphere, the replica Eiffel Tower, and many other iconic Vegas landmarks. The track also has incredible features, with playing cards adorned on the kerbs. The city isn’t known for being lackluster in any category, and this circuit proves that.
While the track's outline may not seem exciting, it’s considered one of the higher-speed races on the grid, comparable to Monza. Last year’s race was one of the more exciting ones of the season, even with another Red Bull win.
Max Verstappen took the top step for the race last year, beating out Charles Leclerc who started the race from pole position. This year, the competition is a lot closer than it was previously, so it is anyone’s guess who will claim victory in Vegas.
Verstappen took the top step at the Las Vegas Grand Prix in 2023. Courtesy of Red Bull Content Pool/Getty Images.
Perhaps one of the most popular collaborations leading up to the race in Vegas involves the beloved characters from Peanuts. The Vegas Grand Prix teamed up with the brand to create exclusive merchandise to be sold at the Venetian Resort and various merchandise tents around the circuit.
With such a marketable race, it’s no surprise that many teams will bring special liveries, and possibly special race suits, to Vegas. Williams and Sauber already unveiled their liveries ahead of the weekend, and Ferrari might be bringing a gladiator-themed design for the race, but it has yet to be confirmed.
Red Bull had planned to unveil a new design for Sin City but ultimately decided against it due to weight issues with the car. Even though fans won’t be able to see it on track in Vegas, the team showcased the livery design in a special show run in Ireland.
The Red Bull livery that was originally planned to be used during the Vegas Grand Prix showcased on the RB7. Courtesy of Red Bull Content Pool/Sebastian Marko.
The race isn’t the only spectacle of the race weekend, as Grammy-award-winning group Boyz II Men will be performing the National Anthem ahead of the race. There are countless other performers at different zones around the track, such as OneRepublic, Dom Dolla, Ludacris, and more that are yet to be announced.
Vegas is known for being out of the ordinary, and its reputation will continue during the race weekend. The first race of the final triple-header of the season will take place on Saturday, one of only three total races to take place a day early. Bahrain and Saudi Arabia are the only other Saturday races on the calendar in 2024, providing fans with an exciting but tiring schedule.
With only three races to go, Las Vegas could unveil the 2024 world champion. If Lando Norris manages to outscore Verstappen by three points, the fight will continue. Otherwise, the Dutch driver will take the crown, earning his fourth career title in Formula 1.
The weekend officially kicks off on November 21 and will be the beginning of the end of the 2024 season. There is still much to be decided before the lights go out for the final time in Abu Dhabi, and Vegas will be a race to remember.
Edited by Reese Dlabach
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