On November 18, 2023, Las Vegas hosted the highly anticipated Formula One World Championship. This event marked the first time Formula 1® has hosted a Grand Prix in Sin City since 1982. Races took place on the Las Vegas Circuit, a track featuring some of the most iconic properties on the Vegas strip as a backdrop, including the Eiffel Tower, the Bellagio fountains, and even the new Sphere.
What is Formula 1® Racing?
Formula 1® racing originated in Europe, having been contested for the first time in France in 1901. However, the race wasn’t formalized until 1947 with the first official race taking place in 1950 at the British Grand Prix.
This international series of races involves open-wheel single-seater formula racing cars. Each race consists of 20 drivers, 10 teams, and 10 chassis manufacturers. To determine the winner, racers travel a specified distance across a pre-set track. Some tracks are shorter than others, so the number of laps in a race depends on the track itself. The Las Vegas Grand Prix consisted of 50 laps.
About the Las Vegas Grand Prix
As a city that thrives on tourism, Las Vegas makes the perfect backdrop for an exciting Grand Prix race. The city welcomes millions of visitors a year from across the globe. In 2021 alone, Las Vegas hosted about 32 million visitors.
Since Las Vegas has built a reputation on sports, relaxation, and nightlife, it made perfect sense to host a Grand Prix. In 2016, Liberty Media purchased Formula 1 and set the wheels in motion for this marquee event.
After some initial hiccups in practice sessions, the track was ready to host the inaugural event in November.
The 2023 Teams
The 20 Formula 1® teams in this race included regular contenders such as Red Bull Racing, Mercedes, Ferrari, McLaren, Aston Martin, Williams, Alpha Tauri, Alfa Romeo, and the Haas F1 team. Each team sent two drivers to the race, including some of the sport’s most well-known names. Max Verstappen represented Red Bull Racing. Lando Norris represented McLaren, and Logan Sargeant represented Williams.
After wrapping up the tournament in Brazil, Max Verstappen entered the Las Vegas Grand Prix at number one in the power rankings, followed by Fernando Alonso of team Aston Martin and Lando Norris of McLaren.
Who Won the Las Vegas Grand Prix?
After 50 grueling laps in which multiple drivers overtook one another for the top spot, Max Verstappen ultimately prevailed. The Belgian driver won 18 of 23 races this season and entered the race as the favorite to win.
However, the race itself was in jeopardy following the practice session. A water valve cover broke on Las Vegas Boulevard, causing drivers to evacuate the track so it could be inspected for safety. At the time of the break, Charles LeClerc of Ferrari had the fastest time on the track with Nico Hulkenberg and Kevin Magnusson in second and third. Leclerc also won the second practice session, indicating that he might be able to challenge the favorite.
Race Highlights
With a track offering multiple straight areas, making it easier to pass, this race delivered heart-stopping action of all 50 laps. Verstappen and Leclerc both went off course shortly after the opening flag as they jockeyed for the top position. Rather than signaling disaster, both racers managed to get back on the track to lead the pack in the race’s opening meters.
Lando Norris of McLaren went off the track in lap three, while Verstappen was later assessed a five-second penalty for driving another racer off the track. During lap 16, Leclerc managed to overtake Verstappen for the lead, adding excitement to the race. Verstappen was driven off the track halfway through the race.
By lap 29, Leclerc and Sergio Perez led the pack, with Verstappen in 5th place. Perez passed Leclerc in the 30th lap and maintained the lead for several laps until lap 35 when Leclerc managed to recapture the lead. By this time, Verstappen had already clawed his way back into third position.
Verstappen managed to overtake Perez in lap 36 and set his sights on Leclerc. After a neck-and-neck battle for first position, Verstappen managed to shake Leclerc, who then found himself in a battle for second with Sergio Perez and a number of other drivers. With five laps left and multiple drivers jockeying for position, several went wheel to wheel, creating an exciting spectacle for fans who had gathered to watch the race.
Verstappen led in the final lap, with Perez in second place and Leclerc in third. Leclerc made a bold move to pass Perez in the final few seconds of the race to come in second.
A Dramatic Finish
Perez, a Formula 1® driver for Red Bull, came into the Las Vegas Grand Prix ranked 7th in the power rankings. He started the race nearly dead last, managing to work his way to the top of the pack with bold moves. He mentioned that he was having trouble shaking Leclerc, and the race got harder once Verstappen worked his way back into the top three.
Perez has considered this year to be one of his most challenging with his car and his team. While he was disappointed with his result in Las Vegas, he was proud of the way the team has come back together at this point in the season. He is also looking forward to the Grand Prix wrapping up in Abu Dhabi. Following the Las Vegas Grand Prix, Peres found himself at second in the overall driver standings, putting him in a decent position for Abu Dhabi.
Other Notable Highlights of the Race
A Formula 1® race is not limited to brilliant performances on the track. With so many bumps and bruises on the track, each driver needs a top-tier pit crew to fix minor car issues and get them back on the track as quickly as possible.
Formula 1® recognizes these talented crews, including awarding points for the DHL Fastest Pit Stop. In Las Vegas, Oscar Piastri’s team from McLaren achieved the fastest pit stop at 1.99 seconds. The team managed to fuel up and swap out all four tires in less time than it took to type this sentence.
While this feat is impressive, the McLaren pit team managed to set a world record at the Qatar Grand Prix earlier in 2023, serving Lando Norris’ car in 1.80 seconds. The McLaren team is very organized with a crew standing at the ready as soon as a driver pulls into the bay. Everyone knows what they need to do, and they pull off each stop with precision. Of the top ten crews, the slowest pit stop was 2.89 seconds.
Team Red Bull finished the event in first place with 521 points and the fastest pit stop honors in nine races. McClaren added another race to their belt but ended the Las Vegas Grand Prix in third place behind Ferrari and Red Bull.
Looking Ahead
While Max Verstappen looks to have the season firmly in his grasp, Charles Leclerc leads the power rankings following the Las Vegas Grand Prix. His impressive performance in Vegas garnered accolades from the judging panel tasked with ranking drivers.
Verstappen is number two in the power rankings with 18 wins in his Grand Prix season. He has shown tenacity throughout the season. In Vegas, he shook off the five-second penalty for forcing a driver off the track as well as damage to his car in an on-track collision. Verstappen looks poised to potentially rack up another win in Abu Dhabi, assuming he can shake off Leclerc, Perez, or other eager drivers in his wake.