The news that Formula 1 will return to Las Vegas next year for the first time since 1982 only highlights just how important it has become for grand prix racing to truly crack the US.
Cutting through to what's traditionally considered the world’s most significant commercial market, to a wider public that has never really got F1, has long been a bugbear.
Now, with a third annual US fixture added to the schedule, joining the new-for-2022 Miami GP and the established race in Austin, Texas, F1’s American promoter, Liberty Media, finally appears to have discovered the code that grand prix racing has been looking for since the long-distant days of Watkins Glen and Mario Andretti.
Gaudy Las Vegas has always made sense for F1. Let’s face it, both are all about the money. But the last attempt to establish roots in Nevada’s gambling mecca ended as little more than a curio of F1 history.
In 1981 and 1982, the Caesars Palace GP closed both seasons but proved remarkably underwhelming. A bland circuit laid out in the car park of the famous casino and hotel failed to capture the imagination of locals and offered little inspiration to unimpressed drivers and teams. This time, it should be very different.
A 3.8-mile, 14-corner circuit will incorporate the landmark Las Vegas Strip, running past the famous casinos and hotels that make the city what it is. To some, it’s the tackiest place on earth. To F1’s promoter, it’s a slice of heaven.
The race will offer “the perfect marriage of speed and glamour”, as Liberty president and CEO Greg Maffei gushed, while it’s notable the press release even highlighted the “incredible neon lights” that will provide a suitably glitzy backdrop – and what could be more important? You stay classy, F1.
So can the sport justify running three US races in one season? Absolutely, and few within the sport would care to argue, given America’s continuing commercial power.
And it’s not the first time it’s happened, either. Back in 1982, Caesars Palace completed a trio made up by the US GP West held in Long Beach and what was then a new venue for the US GP itself on the streets of Detroit.
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It’s exciting to see how Formula 1 is expanding its reach with new venues like Las Vegas, which promises to bring a unique twist to the racing calendar. The glitz and glamour of the Strip will surely attract a whole new audience, turning a night race into a spectacular show. For a different kind of thrill, check out fridayroll casino, where you can experience high-stakes excitement in a completely different setting. The combination of racing and nightlife in Las Vegas could redefine how fans engage with the sport, making it a must-watch for both new and old fans alike. I can't wait to see how this all unfolds!
They could always make Monaco biennial?, it's just a show race, a race held on a street track where the backdrop is more interesting than the actual race, so, having a race in Vegas at Night on a Saturday with all the bright lights and landmark buildings along with the fact it act has two straights seems a good choice.