“Vivaaa Las Vegas”: Las Vegas Grand Prix highlights

The victory of Max Verstappen during the first edition

Max Verstappen’s victory at the 2023 Las Vegas Grand Prix marked a decisive moment in his dominant season. After starting in second position behind Charles Leclerc, the Dutchman’s performance during the race was exemplary. He overcame several challenges, including a close encounter with George Russell, which damaged the front wing of his car. But his consistency and skill allowed him to find his way through and ultimately take the lead in the race. His victory in Las Vegas also enabled Red Bull to complete a sweep of the American races for the year, following its wins in Miami and Austin.

The difficult race of Sergio Pérez.

Still at Red Bull, Sergio Pérez faced a much more complicated race on his side. Starting from 11th place, the Mexican was involved in an incident right at the first corner, which complicated his race from the beginning. Although he showed a good pace and made several overtakes, he could not recover enough positions to claim victory. Pérez’s race was all the more difficult because of the peculiarities of the Las Vegas circuit, especially tire management and track conditions. In the end, he still managed to finish in third place, behind Charles Leclerc.

The overtaking of the year

While the detractors of this Grand Prix were waiting for it to fail (without bad puns…), the race finally offered many good moments to the spectators, including a spectacular overtaking by Charles Leclerc on the last lap, allowing him to climb to second place and winning the title of “Overtake of the Year” for this effort. Behind the leaders, drivers like Esteban Ocon (4th) and Lance Stroll (5th) also made impressive comebacks, going from the back of the pack to solid positions.

Unique track and race conditions

The Las Vegas Grand Prix was unique in its calendar, being the first F1 race to take place on a Saturday night instead of the traditional Sunday. This change was part of a broader effort to align the race with the entertaining atmosphere of Las Vegas, where Saturday night allows for a grand spectacle. But this moment of the race was particularly challenging due to the cold temperatures of the night, which caused problems in warming up the tires. Teams, notably AlphaTauri, struggled to achieve optimal tire performance, impacting their strategies and overall pace.

The economic impact and investment in Las Vegas.

The first Las Vegas Grand Prix was much more than just a race; it was a major event that had a significant economic impact on the city. With an estimated contribution of $1.5 billion to the local economy, it was clear that Formula 1 had made a strategic investment in Las Vegas. The event not only attracted thousands of spectators but also significant media attention, furthering F1’s efforts to expand its presence in the United States. F1’s long-term commitment to the race is confirmed by the purchase of land for future infrastructure, signaling a lasting presence in the entertainment capital of the world. Come on, liveeee Las Vegas, as Max would say…