circuits

Las Vegas Street Circuit

Las Vegas Street Circuit

For several years, there has been plenty of talk about a Grand Prix in Las Vegas. This calendar year, it is finally here. On the Las Vegas Street Circuit, the drivers will encounter several highlights, with the stretch along 'The Strip' of the city standing out. As it is a Saturday evening race (6:00am UK time on Sunday), there will be no shortage of atmosphere.

Las Vegas Street Circuit

For several years, there has been plenty of talk about a Grand Prix in Las Vegas. This calendar year, it is finally here. On the Las Vegas Street Circuit, the drivers will encounter several highlights, with the stretch along 'The Strip' of the city standing out. As it is a Saturday evening race (6:00am UK time on Sunday), there will be no shortage of atmosphere.

History in Las Vegas

This is not the first time Formula 1 has travelled to Las Vegas for a race weekend. In fact, a GP was also held there in 1981 and 1982, although on a different track back then. Moreover, the race was known as the Caesars Palace GP, which Formula 1 had already decided to bid farewell to at the end of the 1982 season.

Alan Jones was the first Formula One winner in the city. The Australian managed to keep the competition behind him with his Williams-Ford. Alain Prost and Bruno Giacomelli joined him on the podium at the end of the race, while Nigel Mansell and Nelson Piquet completed the top five.

A year later, it was Italian Michele Alboreto who took the top prize at the end of the race. The Tyrrell-Ford driver held off John Watson and Eddie Cheever. Alain Prost and Keke Rosberg both failed to finish on the podium but were among the first five drivers.

The new circuit on the race calendar

Drivers will get a new challenge this season with Las Vegas. The street circuit is 6.120 kilometres long, has 14 corners and is driven in an anti-clockwise direction. The race will start on a former car park, after which they will have to prepare for turn one: a hairpin. 

After several corners, the drivers will come to drive through a slow left turn. This one goes along Las Vegas Boulevard and is a whopping 1.920 kilometres long. Here, they have the opportunity to go virtually full throttle, so the power of the engines is expected to be important in securing victory.