This weekend, Formulation 1 will race in Las Vegas for the fourth time. After two occasions held on a observe constructed round Caesars Palace in 1981 and 1982, final yr the Grand Prix discovered a brand new residence within the leisure capital of the world, with the circuit incorporating a part of the well-known Strip from which it takes its identify.
The Las Vegas Grand Prix is the third occasion this yr held in the USA, alongside Miami and Austin. Following the Spa-Francorchamps circuit, which is 7.004 kilometers lengthy, the Nevada observe is the second longest on the calendar at 6.201 kilometers. It options 17 turns, to be tackled over 50 instances throughout the race. The Strip circuit is a high-speed observe with three straights and quite a few overtaking alternatives, notably at flip 14.
As soon as once more this yr, on-track motion will start with two observe classes kicking off the occasion on Thursday, main as much as the Saturday evening race, which can happen totally beneath floodlights. Whereas Las Vegas isn’t the one GP held at evening, no different observe experiences such a big drop in temperature from day to nighttime as this weekend’s occasion.
That is as a result of metropolis’s location within the Mojave Desert. Moreover, the November date guidelines out the spring or summer time local weather that characterizes most Grand Prix races. Consequently, vehicles are more likely to race in air temperatures of round 10°C.
As is customary for avenue circuits, Pirelli has chosen the three softest compounds within the vary, with the C3 as Onerous, C4 as Medium, and C5 as Gentle, the identical as in 2023. The principle problem for tires might be warming them up, particularly throughout qualifying, notably for the entrance axle. Drivers might want to guarantee they bring about the tires as much as temperature with out overloading them, avoiding lock-ups throughout harsher braking. Furthermore, the low temperatures cut back grip and might trigger elevated graining. These components may speed up tire put on, suggesting a two-stop technique, which was the commonest alternative final yr. Nevertheless, a one-stop technique could be extremely aggressive, particularly if the driving force progressively brings the tires as much as temperature, extending their sturdiness for an extended stint. Because of the problem in warming up the tires, pitting early to recuperate positions with an undercut isn’t very efficient, and certainly, extending the primary stint is the higher alternative.
As at all times on a avenue circuit, purple flags and Security Vehicles are a powerful chance, with all of the uncertainties this will convey, together with tire temperature administration throughout restarts.
In 2023, Max Verstappen crossed the end line first forward of Charles Leclerc and Sergio Perez. The tires used within the race had been Medium and Onerous, with the yellow-banded tire most well-liked by most drivers on the beginning grid.
This yr’s Las Vegas Grand Prix would be the 79th occasion of the World Drivers’ Championship held in the USA because the sequence started in 1950. This brings the USA stage with Germany and Nice Britain in second place for essentially the most Grand Prix hosted by a single nation, with solely Italy forward, having hosted 107.