After a gap of four decades, Formula 1 will return to the bustling city of Las Vegas, for the penultimate race of the season where Max Verstappen has shown ridiculous dominance, having won a whopping seventeen races, but the challenges that he’ll have to conquer in the Silver City is unlike anything he has faced so far this year. In Las Vegas, the buzzing sound of a race will come with a street flavour, as the racing track snakes through the lively and teeming streets, including a 2km stretch on The Strip.

What Makes Las Vegas F1 Unique?

The last time F1 took place in this city was in 1982 when the racing circuit was designed within the premises of Caesars Palace Casino. This time a new street circuit has been built that will pass through some of the most iconic casinos, bars, and of course, The Sphere. It should be a visual assault on the eyes of drivers, with bright neon lights of Vegas’ finest attractions staying with them throughout the course of the race. For a change, this is going to be a night race.

How Did Las Vegas Street Transform To A Racing Circuit?

To make the public roadway ready for the high-end racing event, more than three miles of the road were dug up and relaid with a newer composition. “It is a significant feat to take that public roadway and make it into a track,” Terry Miller, project manager for paddock and construction at the Las Vegas Grand Prix, told Popular Mechanics. “It doesn’t have anything to do with the inclination of the roadway, it has everything to do with the asphalt and composition of the base.” 

The total length of the track is 3.8 miles, and only twice it will pass through private properties; the first time in the pit near in front of the Las Vegas Paddock building, and the second time when it goes in front of a newly-opened MSG Sphere. You should expect some spicy overtakes on a street track that proudly claims to have a top-speed that’s comparable to Monza in Italy.

“We are essentially encapsulating 60,000 hotel rooms, workers, guests and visitors of Las Vegas. And how do we ensure that we are able to keep traffic moving, keep people moving when the track is hot?” said Las Vegas GP CEO Renee Wilm to Sky Sports.

Who Are The Major Contenders? 

It has to be Red Bull’s Max Verstappen. The last two races in the USA, in Austin and Miami, have also been won by Verstappen, who is sitting at the top of the leaderboards, with 524 points. Verstappen’s teammate Sergio Perez is his strongest contender, while you could never rule out Lewis Hamilton.

When, Where & How to Watch the Las Vegas Grand Prix 2023?

In a major heartbreak for F1 fans, the races this season aren’t being broadcasted on Star Sports. For live streaming, you will have to buy an F1 TV Pro annual subscription, currently priced at around Rs 2500.

Check out the full schedule of the 2023 Las Vegas Grand Prix weekend.

November 17 (Friday) 

Practice 1 – 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM (IST)

Practice 2 – 1:30 PM to 2:30 PM (IST)

November 18 (Saturday) 

Practice 3 – 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM 

Qualifying 1:30 PM – 2:30 PM 

November 19 (Sunday) 

Final Race – 11:30 AM onwards