The Method 1 World Championship returns to Las Vegas for the primary time since 1982, when the town final held what was then generally known as the Caesars Palace Grand Prix. That race was held within the parking zone of the palace, however the brand new Las Vegas Grand Prix scheduled for this weekend guarantees to be a way more spectacular occasion, as it should see F1 vehicles race down the well-known Strip.

The Las Vegas Grand Prix serves because the penultimate spherical of the 2023 season, and can run on a road circuit generally known as the Las Vegas Strip Circuit. The circuit encompasses a 17-corner, 3.85-mile lengthy observe, which is second solely to Spa-Francorchamps in size. The race is scheduled to run for 50 laps.

The circuit captures a number of of the town’s most well-known landmarks in its backdrop, together with the brand new Sphere, and since it is a night time race, most of the metropolis’s neon lights may even be current. Nonetheless, among the road fixtures, notably manhole covers, are proving to be a problem. A concrete encompass to a manhole cowl got here unfastened after Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz drove over it throughout a Thursday follow session, damaging his automotive and ending the session early.

The circuit’s structure consists of a brief run from the beginning line to the primary nook, a decent left-hander adopted by a sequence of extra flowing corners which lead onto considered one of two lengthy straights and the primary of two DRS zones. The second sector is all about velocity, with the drivers accelerating out of Flip 9, going into a pointy left which leads onto the second straight because the vehicles fly down the Strip, together with the second DRS zone. After that comes a slim chicane at Turns 14, 15 and 16 which leads again to the principle straight.

Las Vegas Strip Circuit, residence of the Method 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix

Simulations present that drivers might want to use full throttle for nearly 80% of a lap and that prime speeds, estimated to be round 212 mph, might be second solely to these achieved at Italy’s Monza.

The perfect setup might be a automotive that delivers a excessive prime velocity whereas retaining sufficient mechanical grip and downforce for the low-speed corners. For the tires, Pirelli has nominated its softest compounds: the C3 because the white arduous, the C4 because the yellow medium, and the C5 because the crimson smooth. As a result of the race might be run at night time, altering ambient and observe temperatures will seemingly have an effect on grip ranges.

Crimson Bull Racing and star driver Max Verstappen have already received the championship, however Verstappen hasn’t slowed one bit, particularly as every extra win will increase his report for wins in a season. His report tally stands at 17 forward of the Las Vegas Grand Prix.

Going into Saturday’s qualifying session and Sunday’s race, Verstappen’s factors tally within the 2023 Drivers’ Championship stands at 524 factors. Fellow Crimson Bull driver Sergio Perez is second with 258 factors and Mercedes-Benz AMG’s Lewis Hamilton is third with 226 factors. Within the Constructors’ Championship, Crimson Bull sits on 782 factors. Mercedes is second with 382 factors and Ferrari is third with 362 factors.