Las Vegas GP organisers tweak times to suit US fans and viewers

F1's governing body, the FIA announced on Monday that qualifying on 21 November and the race start on Nov. 22 will be at 8 pm local instead of 10 pm. The grand prix was added to the calendar in 2023.

The timings should be more friendly for viewers in other parts of the United States, particularly on the East Coast, although European fans will have to set their alarm clocks for a race now at 4 a.m. UK time.

After a brief foray in the eighties, Formula 1 returned to Las Vegas in 2023, this time as a marquee event on the Strip. Unlike the original race, the modern Las Vegas Grand Prix was designed to be a high-profile spectacle, held at night under the city’s neon lights

The 6.2 km (3.8-mile) circuit runs through some of the most famous landmarks on the Strip, including a 1.9 km straight where cars reach over 340 km/h (211 mph).

The 2023 event was heavily promoted by Formula 1 itself, marking a rare instance where the sport directly invested in a race. Despite initial concerns over cold weather and logistical issues, the race was a success, delivering dramatic on-track action.

With a long-term contract in place, the Las Vegas Grand Prix is set to be a key part of F1’s expansion in the United States, alongside Miami and Austin.

Formula 1 first raced in Las Vegas in 1981 and 1982 under the name Caesars Palace Grand Prix. Held in the parking lot of the Caesars Palace casino, the temporary street circuit was flat, tight, and uninspiring, failing to generate excitement among drivers and fans.

Despite this, the race played a key role in both championship-deciding seasons. In 1981, Nelson Piquet secured his first world title after finishing fifth in a gruelling, physically demanding race. In 1982, Michele Alboreto claimed his maiden F1 victory in what became the last F1 race in Vegas for over four decades.

The combination of poor attendance, extreme heat, and the uninspiring track layout led to its swift demise after just two seasons.