Rev Your Engines: The Countdown Is On For F1 To Hit The Streets Of Las Vegas

Las Vegas is gearing up for the second year of Formula 1 excitement. Scheduled for November 21 to 23, this highly anticipated event will have F1 drivers competing on a 3.8-mile street circuit that weaves through the heart of the city, passing the glitz and glamour of the city’s neon lights, casinos, landmarks, on and off the world-famous Strip.

The circuit follows part of the Strip, as well as the surrounding area, and will have drivers racing at speeds more than 200-mph, around 17 turns that combine some straight-aways with tight corners, bringing an added level of excitement for spectators.

The festival feel brought to Sin City by F1 is accompanied by events, parties, and more. There are multiple ways to catch the race in person or at a watch-party, as well as things to do during the three-day long event for people not interested in the sport.

If you’re planning a visit to Vegas during F1 or you’re a local and want to catch a glimpse of the racing action but only want to attend one night rather than all three, single day tickets recently went on sale.

“We’re excited to offer single-day ticket options again this year and to make race weekend accessible to as many fans as possible, especially for those in our local community, Renee Wilm, Las Vegas Grand Prix Inc. CEO, said in a statement, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

“As we continue to innovate and expand our offerings, we are committed to providing a variety of ticket options that allow fans to experience part of the weekend in a way that suits them best. This optionality reflects our dedication to delivering world-class programming, entertaining, and hospitality while ensuring a memorable experience for all.”

Single-day tickets are available across various areas and include general admission and grandstands. Many sections even include complimentary food and non-alcoholic beverages.

The official name of F1‘s Vegas track is the Las Vegas Strip Circuit, which includes part of the Strip, as well as 17 turns.

According to F1 Chronicle, the Las Vegas Strip Circuit spans just over 3.8 miles, placing it among the longer tracks on the F1 calendar. There’s a long straight away on the Strip that allows racers to exceed 200 mph before hitting a turn.

During the Grand Prix, F1 cars complete 50 laps, covering 192.6 miles, giving spectators many opportunities to see the car flying by on the street of Las Vegas.

The circuit brings some unique challenges with a mix of slow, medium, and high-speed turns on the 17 corners on the track.

The start/finish line is located in a former parking lot turned into F1 headquarters on Harmon Avenue. The track offers a few technical sections, including a sweeping left turn around the Sphere, tight corners onto Harmon Avenue and more.

Viewing areas and seating includes the T-Mobile Zone at Sphere, East Harmon Zone by Virgin Hotels Las Vegas, Pit Building Zone, Flamingo Zone, South Koval Zone, and others.

One big addition to this year’s event in Vegas is the Ferrari Challenge, which is a support race. The change came to be after last year’s logistical challenges.

“We took on the feedback last year of not having a support race,” said Emily Prazer, Chief Commercial Officer for F1 and Las Vegas Grand Prix. “Ferrari also brings a crowd that loves Las Vegas as you’d expect. So it’s a natural one for us to go after and they’ve been incredible partners.”

Another new addition is an ice rink on the Paddock Club’s roof, which is a first for any F1 event.

“So we’re putting an ice rink on the roof of the Paddock Club in Vegas this year,” Prazer said. “You would never see us do that anywhere else. But the intent is like, ‘how do we create more of an entertainment proposition?'”

There will also be a free F1 festival, but only a certain number of tickets were released for it, and they appear to be sold out at this time.

If you want to see the race from high up in the sky, Maverick Helicopters offers flight access over the race circuit throughout Las Vegas Grand Prix Weekend.

This thrilling 10 to 12 minute flight provides a unique and memorable way to view all the race action, as well as the surrounding areas, including panoramic views of iconic casinos and landmarks, Downtown Las Vegas, Allegiant Stadium, and more.

The Vegas Victory Lap flights start at $169 per person and are available from noon to 11 p.m. on Thursday and Friday and until midnight on Saturday.

For more information, visit their website.

Not a racing fan, or maybe you just want to catch one night of racing action and find something else to do? The inaugural Neon City Festival, held in Downtown Las Vegas, is an option for locals and tourists alike. And it’s free!

“The locals are all going to be down here. It’s going to be an incredible weekend for them, and they’re going to have access to some of the best musical performances,” said Jonathan Jossel, Plaza Hotel and Casino CEO, according to KVVU Las Vegas.

“We came to the realization that we needed to do something different: we weren’t anti-F1. We just need to be the alternative to F1. We wish F1 to be a huge success for the city, I think it will be, long-term…but for us, Downtown, we had to come up with an alternative plan.”

Bands announced for the festival include Neon Trees, Troyboi, Russell Dickerson, The All-American Rejects, Seven Lions, and Alison Wonderland, among others.

According to the festival’s website, “This first-of-its-kind, free, all-ages celebration of music, food and art transforms the heart of Las Vegas into a sprawling, open-air playground.”

In addition to live music, there will be food, interactive art, fireworks, and more.

For more information on Neon City Festival, visit their website. For more information and to get tickets to F1, visit their website.