Looking Ahead to the Third Year on the Las Vegas Circuit
As a major part of Formula 1’s push for an American audience, the Las Vegas Grand Prix earned a spot on the calendar in 2023 and isn’t going away anytime soon. Having recently signed a deal to keep the Vegas circuit in F1 until 2027, the City of Sin is now looking to become a mainstay even beyond the 2020s. With 10 Grands Prix left in the 2025 season and the August break quickly coming to an end, there’s no better time for racers and fans alike to study up on the Las Vegas Strip Circuit. As one of the newest tracks in the sport, drivers will be approaching with caution, but that also means there’s history to be made.
It’s impossible to discuss the Vegas track without mentioning the incident that occurred during its debut in 2023. There are always inherent risks to street circuits, with crashes frequently occurring on the narrow streets of Monaco. Las Vegas wasn’t initially prepared for the force of a Formula 1 racecraft charging down the strip. During a practice run, Carlos Sainz, driving for Ferrari at the time, impacted a manhole cover that came loose as he ran over it. The resulting damage meant that Sainz was unable to race in the main event, as Ferrari was not equipped to repair the vehicle in time. Since then, the Las Vegas Grand Prix has taken precautions to prevent further incidents stemming from the road conditions. Ahead of the 2025 race, nearby roads will be closed off to prevent wear on the track leading up to the initial practice days, and preparations will begin in early September to ensure optimal conditions. The manhole cover in question, along with other irregularities on the track, has been secured with additional bolts to prevent them from coming loose as the cars pass over them.
Sainz got his redemption in 2024 with a third-place podium finish, but the race this season will hardly resemble what we’ve seen before. Sainz now sits further back in the grid, having been unable to reach the podium again since joining Williams, and with a one-two finish for Mercedes, McLaren is the most likely victor. With only nine points between the two McLaren drivers as of the August break, each race counts more than ever as Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri battle for the championship title. The Las Vegas Grand Prix is one of the final races of the season, and could be a pivotal factor in deciding the championship victor.
For anyone eager to watch the excitement in person, it is important to remember the conditions under which the race occurs. Las Vegas is often revered as an oasis in the Mojave Desert, but it isn’t immune to the harsh heat and drastic changes in conditions common in the region. The glaring Mojave sun prevents a daylight race, meaning the Grand Prix will take place at night. Attendees of the previous Vegas GPs will remember the resulting cold, and future attendees will be wise to bundle up. In response to the cold conditions plaguing the previous years, the race start has been moved up, now beginning at 8 p.m. Pacific. The race, which is held at night, offers a unique sight in Formula 1, as the greatest drivers face off under the unrelenting lights of the Las Vegas strip.
