F1 has announced that it will be returning to Las Vegas for the Las Vegas Grand Prix starting from 2023.
It is set to be the third race on the calendar held in the United States, with Grands Prix already taking place in Miami and Austin.
F1 has visited Las Vegas before, between 1981 and 1982. At the time, the Caesars Palace circuit was rated as one of the worst that the sport had ever raced at.
It did at least provide some form of excitement in its second year, with Keke Rosberg picking up the two points he required to win his first and only Drivers’ Championship. Otherwise, however, entertainment appears to have been few and far between.
F1 announced the highly-anticipated news on Twitter on Thursday morning, having teased it for much of the previous day.
Here’s everything we know about the newest addition to the F1 calendar:
When will the Las Vegas Grand Prix take place?
F1 have confirmed that the Las Vegas Grand Prix will take place on a Saturday night in a withdrawal from the usual procedure.
The last F1 race to be held on a Saturday was the 1985 running of the South African Grand Prix.
The race is scheduled to begin at 10pm local time. That means that fans in Europe will have to wait until the early hours of the morning to tune in.
F1 have announced that the race will take place in November 2023.
What track will host the Las Vegas Grand Prix?
Although the specific name of the track has not yet been announced, we do have details on what it will look like.
The track will incorporate part of the famous Las Vegas Strip and see drivers reach speeds of over 210mph. There are a total of 12 corners.
F1’s website also states that the track will take place amongst famous landmarks and will cover 3.8 miles.
What have F1 personnel said?
F1 chief executive, Stefano Domenicali, said: “Las Vegas is a destination known around the world for its excitement, hospitality, thrills and, of course, the famous Strip.
“There is no better place for Formula 1 to race than in the global entertainment capital of the world, and we cannot wait to be here next year.”
Lewis Hamilton, meanwhile, said: “That is going to be a really hardcore event. I’m not sure how I’m going to focus that weekend. There will be a lot going on!”
Daniel Ricciardo joked that he was going to retire before the announcement, but has now reversed his decision.
How many other races will be in the United States?
As it stands, three F1 races will take place in the United States in 2023. Las Vegas joins existing races held at the Circuit of Americas in Austin and the new street circuit in Miami.
In January, RacingNews365 reported that the long-term plan of F1’s commercial rights holders, Liberty Media, is to have four races in the US.
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