Is the Las Vegas Formula 1 Grand Prix for 2023 a good thing?

If two races in America weren’t enough for the ever growing fanbase of the pinnacle of motorsport then 2023 should do the trick as the Las Vegas Formula 1 Grand Prix has been announced bringing the total tally of three races to American soil. We’re not sure this is the best thing for the sport though. 

Renders of the cars racing through the strip of Las Vegas.

The announcement of the street circuit under the lights will occur towards the end of the season in November and feature 14 corners spanning through a 6,12 km loop in the sprawling city lit with neon lights. Drivers have expressed excitement for the latest announcement to the calendar but this isn’t the first time Formula 1 has performed their exploits in the gambling-capital of the world. 

The last Formula 1 Grand Prix to happen in the opulent city was in the parking lot of Caesars Palace in the early 1980s. As you can expect, it was abysmal and the daytime conditions in the heat of the Nevada desert tested both man and machine. It continued until 1982 and after 2 seasons before management of Caesars palace chose to pull the cord after poor spectator turnout for a large outlay of cash. 

You don’t need to be a rocket scientist to know that a car park isn’t the most glamorous location for a Grand Prix.

Rumours have circulated that the motorsport circus would return to Las Vegas from 1995 but the hearsay really began gaining momentum when Formula 1 was acquired by American company Liberty Media in the beginning of 2017. While often criticised for prioritising theatrical displays of opulence for A-listers over exciting racing at historically loved circuits, their latest endeavours have proven this with many fans up in arms over the decision. Popular Netflix Series Drive to Survive has also come under flak lately for overdramatisation, read more here. 

An iconic location but so far, already unpopular with fans.

It proves that the highest bidder (in this case the Las Vegas Formula 1 Grand Prix) will always come out on top when fan-favorite circuits like the Nurburgring in Germany, the Malaysian Grand Prix or even Kyalami on our home soil not only provide historical value to the sport but are purpose built for high speed thrills in these countries.

With the addition of the Las Vegas Formula 1 Grand Prix to the 2023 season, there will now be two American street circuits on the calendar, excluding the action packed American Grand Prix at the Circuit of The Americas in Austin. We can only hope that it will at least provide exciting racing but feel this is a missed opportunity for the motorport series to have branched out into parts of the world where it can tap into a growing interest for racing.

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