F1 Las Vegas Grand Prix: Charles Leclerc on pole alongside Max ...
The most anticipated event on F1’s 2023 calendar takes over Las Vegas’ iconic Strip this weekend.
F1 announced in March 2022 that it would stage the Las Vegas Grand Prix on and around the Strip beginning in November 2023. Since then, rapid construction on the nearly 4-mile track and garage facilities has taken place. A 1.4-mile stretch of Las Vegas Blvd., from the Palazzo south to Planet Hollywood will produce top-end speeds of more than 210 mph as the cars roar past numerous iconic resorts like the Flamingo, Caesars Palace, Bellagio and Planet Hollywood.
While it’s taken 19 months for the current iteration to get running, F1 has visited Las Vegas before — more than 40 years ago. Those races were held under the Caesar’s Palace Grand Prix moniker and contested on a tiny makeshift circuit in what was then the parking lot for the titular casino. It lasted only two years, in 1981 and 1982 with Alan Jones and Michele Alboreto, respectively, winning those events.
Here’s what to know ahead of the Las Vegas Grand Prix:
Las Vegas Grand Prix starting gridCharles Leclerc (16), Ferrari
Max Verstappen (1), Red Bull-Honda RBPT
George Russell (63), Mercedes
Pierre Gasly (10), Alpine-Renault
Alexander Albon (23), Williams-Mercedes
Logan Sargeant (2), Williams-Mercedes
Valtteri Bottas (77), Alfa Romeo-Ferrari
Kevin Magnussen (20), Haas-Ferrari
Fernando Alonso (14), Aston Martin-Mercedes
Lewis Hamilton (44), Mercedes
Sergio Perez (11), Red Bull-Honda RBPT
Carlos Sainz (55), Ferrari
Nico Hülkenberg, (27), Haas-Ferrari
Lance Stroll (18), Aston Martin-Mercedes
Daniel Ricciardo (3), AlphaTauri-Honda RBPT
Lando Norris (4), McLaren-Mercedes
Esteban Ocon (31), Alpine-Renault
Zhou Guanyu (24), Alfa Romeo-Ferrari
Oscar Piastri (81), McLaren-Mercedes
Yuki Tsunoda (22), AlphaTauri-Honda RBPT
Ferraris fastest in free practiceCharles Leclerc posted the quickest lap time in Friday's free practice 2 session, with a 1:35.265, which was more than half a second faster than Ferrari teammate Carlos Sainz Jr. The session was the only representative running so far as the aerodynamic suction of Sainz's car pulled up a drain cover on the Las Vegas street circuit, resulting the cancelation of FP1 and causing damage to Sainz's floor. Due to the nature of the repairs to Sainz's car, he will receive a 10-place grid penalty for the race.
Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso was third-quickest with a 1:35.793, followed by Red Bull's Sergio Perez (1:36.085) and Alfa Romeo's Valtteri Bottas (1:36.129) to round out the top five. Race favorite Max Verstappen posted the sixth-fastest time with a 1:36.183.
Free practice 1 halted due to drain cover issue
The first on-track running for the Las Vegas Grand Prix lasted all of eight minutes late Thursday Night. Early in the session, the Ferrari of Carlos Sainz Jr. ran over a drain cover and the massive downforce generated by an F1 sucked out of its mooring. Sainz had to stop the car in the middle of the track with massive floor damage and be towed to the garage.
Race officials canceled the session shortly thereafter as all remaining drain covers needed to be inspected. FP2 was also pushed back three hours to allow for the inspections. Sainz will now be handed a 10-place grid penalty due to the repairs necessary on the car.
Verstappen: Las Vegas GP '99% show, 1% sport'It's safe to say the three-time reigning F1 champion isn't a sucker for neon.
In pre race-weekend media availability Wednesday, Max Verstappen was quite blunt on what he feels about the Las Vegas Grand Prix. Asked if he was looking forward to the race he responded with a curt "no." He went on to elaborate on his thoughts:
"I think it is 99% show, 1% sport," said Verstappen. "(F1) still make money if I like it or not so it is not up to me.
"But I'm not going to fake it. I always voice my opinion in positive things, in negative things, that's just how I am.
"It's not really my thing.
"Some people like a show; I don't like it at all."
Verstappen and the 19 other drivers took place in a glitzy "Opening Ceremony" for the race weekend Wednesday night featuring numerous musical performances, exhibitions from the Blue Man Group and Cirque du Soleil.
Las Vegas Grand Prix TV scheduleAll times Eastern
Thursday
12:30 a.m.-1 a.m.: Opening Ceremony (ESPN2)
11:25 p.m.-12:30 a.m.: Free practice 1 (ESPN2, F1 TV Pro)
Friday
5:25 a.m.-6:30 a.m.: Free practice 2 (ESPN, F1 TV Pro)
11:25 p.m.-12:30 a.m.: Free practice 3 (ESPNU, F1 TV Pro)
Saturday
2:55 a.m.-4 a.m.: Qualifying (ESPN, F1 TV Pro)
11:30 p.m.-12:55 a.m.: Pre-race show (ESPN, ESPN+)
Sunday
12:55 a.m. - 3 a.m.: (ESPN, ESPN+, F1 TV Pro)
Track: Las Vegas Strip Circuit, 3.85-mile, 17-turn, counter-clockwise temporary street racing facility in Paradise, Nevada
Race length: 50 laps
Tire compounds: C3 (Hard), C4 (Medium), C5 (Soft)
Lap record: N/A, inaugural event
F1 being a true world tour, racing on five continents in 20 different countries, each Grand Prix takes on the characteristics of the host locale, and the United States is no different. The U.S. Grand Prix, held just outside of Austin, Texas, always has a uniquely out-sized Texan feel. The first two iterations of the Miami Grand Prix have similarly taken on a fluorescent South Beach motif.
Do you really think the self-styled Entertainment Capital of the World would just mail it in? Las Vegas is staging an opening ceremony that will be televised on ESPN2 (12:30 a.m. ET, Thursday), featuring performances from Steve Aoki, Journey, Keith Urban, Bishop Briggs, J Balvin, Thirty Seconds to Mars, will.i.am, Cirque du Soleil and the Blue Man Group. The ceremony will conclude with introductions for all 20 drivers.
Top drivers and best bets for the Las Vegas Grand PrixMax Verstappen is in the midst of the most dominant F1 racing season ever and is understandably a massive favorite in Las Vegas, according to BetMGM. Every $2.50 bet on Verstappen will yield just $1 while the next best odds belong to Ferrari's Charles Leclerc at 4.5-to-1. Leclerc's odds are more than twice as good as the rest of the field.
Best odds to win
• Max Verstappen, Red Bull-RBPT -250
• Charles Leclerc, Ferrari +450
• Lando Norris, McLaren-Mercedes +1000
1. Max Verstappen (1), Red Bull-Honda RBPT – 524*
2. Sergio Perez (11), Red Bull-Honda RBPT – 258
3. Lewis Hamilton (44), Mercedes – 226
4. Fernando Alonso (14), Aston Martin-Mercedes – 198
5. Lando Norris (4), McLaren-Mercedes – 195
6. Carlos Sainz (55), Ferrari – 192
7. Charles Leclerc (16), Ferrari – 170
8. George Russell (63), Mercedes – 156
9. Oscar Piastri (81), McLaren-Mercedes – 87
10. Lance Stroll (18), Aston Martin-Mercedes – 63
11. Pierre Gasly (10), Alpine-Renault – 62
12. Esteban Ocon (31), Alpine-Renault – 46
13. Alexander Albon (23), Williams-Mercedes – 27
14. Yuki Tsunoda (22), AlphaTauri-Honda RBPT – 13
15. Valtteri Bottas (77), Alfa Romeo-Ferrari – 10
16. Nico Hülkenberg, (27), Haas-Ferrari – 9
17. Daniel Ricciardo (3), AlphaTauri-Honda RBPT – 6
18. Zhou Guanyu (24), Alfa Romeo-Ferrari – 6
19. Kevin Magnussen (20), Haas-Ferrari – 3
20. Liam Lawson (40), AlphaTauri-Honda RBPT – 2
21. Logan Sargeant (2), Williams-Mercedes – 1
22. Nyck De Vries (21), AlphaTauri-Honda RBPT – 0
* — Clinched world championship
It’s going to be cold, and it appears this has caught F1 off-guard. The forecast calls for cool temperatures in the 50s for the hours that cars will be on track, which is roughly between 8:30 p.m. and 1:30 a.m. local Thursday-Sunday, and a 53% chance of precipitation Friday and Saturday.
With tire temperature being so vital to the performance of a Formula 1 car, drastically cooler conditions than normal — on a track surface that has never been raced upon — will present a massive challenge for the drivers. Their challenge will be to bring the tires into their optimal operating window in temperatures that are going to be at least 20 degrees fahrenheit colder than they are used to.
