2023 sees Formula 1 return to Las Vegas Circuit in Nevada after a forty year break. A new and unique 6.120 kilometre high speed circuit has been built where cars are expected to reach speeds of 340 km/h. The event is likely to reflect the exuberant and over-the-top nature of the city with all sorts of attractions promised both on and off the track.
Formula 1 last raced in Las Vegas in the early 80s on a track laid out in the huge Caesars Palace hotel-casino car park, which gave its name to the race. It was run in 1981 and 1982, deciding the Drivers’ title in favour of Nelson Piquet and Keke Rosberg respectively.
The Las Vegas Grand Prix takes place at night with the cars rushing down the legendary Strip against a backdrop of breathtaking scenery, with lights and water features that create a unique and evocative show. It’s a big party with entertainment on and off the track to celebrate Formula 1 in the United States in style.
“The slightly longer break since Brazil means I’ve had time to move house and I also had a couple of simulator sessions to prepare for this final triple-header of the season. It’s an unusual track, very long for a street circuit, with mainly slow corners, so the car set-up is a compromise between having enough downforce to help with heavy braking at the end of the three long straights and to have good traction out of the turns, while also not having so much drag it affects your top speed on the very fast straights. It gets very cold at night, so one of the main challenges is keeping the brakes and tyres in the right operating window on a long stint in the race and also on a flying lap in qualifying. Last year, there was plenty of off-track activity involving the drivers, so I’m interested to see what the organisers have planned for us this time!“
It gets very cold at night, so one of the main challenges is keeping the brakes and tyres in the right operating window
Yuki Tsunoda "I can’t wait to race in Vegas, it’s an iconic place, with a very unique track. It looks quite tricky with a lot of combined braking zones in places. It’s a fast track; obviously we drive down the strip with a very long straight, which allows for some overtaking. It looks like it’s going to be quite cold conditions, similar to last year, so it’s going to be a challenge for sure, but I’m super pumped to be racing under the lights. I was there last year watching and wishing I was driving, so it’s an exciting feeling going into the week knowing I’ll be in the car this time.”
