2023 Las Vegas Grand Prix - Las Vegas, Nov 16 - 18

[Rodak]

General admission that gives you standing room only in a very limited part of the track. Go to somewhere like Silverstone and general admission allows you to walk around the entire track - great on a Friday, for example, when you can spend the two FPs seeing the cars in all sorts of corners / straights.

Wow, the LA prices are a total mugging.

I would assume a huge chunk of it would be 'cooperate' like Monaco.

Sure, but even the general admission "poor pleb" tickets are ridiculous. $500 a ticket. And that's for entry to a limited area with limited viewing options. A grand for a couple to go to the race. Add in hotels with increased prices for a couple of nights and you're likely looking at a couple of grand for two people to go to the race. Great way to scare away the very people they claim to want to be encouraging - the fans.

Yeah, and street circuits, in my experience, are awful for viewing because of the barriers. Needless to say, drivers get as close as they can which means the cars are hidden be the barrier. I remember an Atlantic race that was put on years ago in Tacoma, south of Seattle. I was helping with the broadcast so had good access, but the view from the seats was just a roll hoop or two; really awful.

On top of that, and ignoring to rip off prices, Law\s Vegas sucks. It's so false it hurts. I went there exactly once, and left the next day as I just couldn't stand it. But, I guess if you like to throw away money it's a great place to go. The 10:00 pm local start time also sucks. Advice to take the money and travel to Europe for a race is good advice.

[MadMax]

On top of that, and ignoring to rip off prices, Law\s Vegas sucks. It's so false it hurts. I went there exactly once, and left the next day as I just couldn't stand it. But, I guess if you like to throw away money it's a great place to go. The 10:00 pm local start time also sucks. Advice to take the money and travel to Europe for a race is good advice.

Also only been once. Used one of the casino hotels as a motel because, strangely, it was much cheaper than a regular motel. I guess they work on the basis that people using the hotel will throw their money away in the casino and so the hotel is a loss leader. Didn't work with us, we just stayed the one night and moved on. Biggest bed I've ever slept on. Must have been 9 feet across. There were two in the room so we had one each.

Had to laugh at the confusion at the check out desk. "You've only spent one night here?" "Yes" "Why?" "It was a cheap bed" "Er....."

Las Vegas is not on my list of return destinations.

[basti313]

Hotel prices could certainly drop if there were no other events in Vegas but that is far from guaranteed. NFL, NHL, college football are all possibilities that weekend, let alone other non-sport possibilities. Yes people can wait but they risk being priced out or booked out entirely as time goes on.

All of these local sports are not really affecting hotel space. The number of travelling fans is super low.
For other activities there is no space in this week.
I will be on a meeting in Vegas with ~12k attendees soon and even this blocks all other bigger meetings. And tourists will stay away, so I still can not picture issues with hotels.

Just looking right now, there seems to be no slowdown in bookings despite the insane prices (common 3 night minimum not shown in this example):
https://imgur.com/a/Cs5Avr5

Mostly you can only book online a year in advance. This is what you see on the picture.

And I would be EXTREMELY suspect about 'inclusive food and drink'. Vegas does food & drink better than just about anyone but I don't think I have ever been to a race where the concession stand wasn't accommodated by some massive line. At COTA last year it was 1hr+, even at the start of practice, for overpriced nachos. What's it gonna be like when they're giving the food out for free? Also, the beers will still be $25 or more.

Good point.
"Free" in the US is usually difficult to find and you might be right on this. But I had a conference just two weeks ago with free food and it was completely different to the past, very good...I was surprised.

I would not go the first year to Vegas. Let them sort out the issues first. Every new race on the schedule had its issues.

Yeah, and street circuits, in my experience, are awful for viewing because of the barriers. Needless to say, drivers get as close as they can which means the cars are hidden be the barrier.

Sorry, but this is nonsense. There is no better view than in Spore, Monaco or Valencia, especially walking around the track 2m away from the fence is just great. You smell the car, the noise is incredible. I do not know about Baku but I expect it to be good as well.
I think classic tracks suck. Have you been to Spa, Hockenheim or Imola? There are just a few spots and you are 50-60m away from the track even on some of the popular grandstands! Any way to get close is the start/finish grandstands...but they are boring.

On top of that, and ignoring to rip off prices, Law\s Vegas sucks. It's so false it hurts. I went there exactly once, and left the next day as I just couldn't stand it.

Well, that is the point. If you go to a classic track you do not have a city that can suck. With all drawbacks like traffic jams on highways for hours, parking in the mud and walking forever.
In a city you get out of your hotel, restaurant, whatever and use a subway/metro/bus to get in 15min the track. You can walk around the Singapore track faster than what you need to get in Spa from the parking lot to the grandstands...

If you hate Vegas you just watch another race...if you like Vegas you can have the race in a comfy way together with some vacation.

But, I guess if you like to throw away money it's a great place to go. The 10:00 pm local start time also sucks. Advice to take the money and travel to Europe for a race is good advice.

I like the time. For Spore we had customers before FP1, then internal discussion between the FP. Before the race you can enjoy the city, hang your balls into the pool with the Ferrari guys and have a nice dinner.

[Juzh]

2023 layout as imagined by track creator


Despite added chicanes I still think this is a low DF track. There's only 1 actual corner that needs some downforce (T2 - long right hander), rest are all really slow speed or easy flat out. Spa setup most likely option.

[AR3-GP]

2023 layout as imagined by track creator


Despite added chicanes I still think this is a low DF track. There's only 1 actual corner that needs some downforce (T2 - long right hander), rest are all really slow speed or easy flat out. Spa setup most likely option.

Quite a boring circuit layout ro be honest.

No memorable qualities. A bit like Miami.

I understand the desire for more American races, but we have got to hold people accountable for this abominable circuits. Miami and Vegas might as well be F1 cars doing circles on an abandoned airfield.

[johnny comelately]

2023 layout as imagined by track creator


Despite added chicanes I still think this is a low DF track. There's only 1 actual corner that needs some downforce (T2 - long right hander), rest are all really slow speed or easy flat out. Spa setup most likely option.

Quite a boring circuit layout ro be honest.

No memorable qualities. A bit like Miami.

I understand the desire for more American races, but we have got to hold people accountable for this abominable circuits. Miami and Vegas might as well be F1 cars doing circles on an abandoned airfield.

Where is the upvote thingy for this post?
Hear here

[Rodak]

Sorry, but this is nonsense. There is no better view than in Spore, Monaco or Valencia, especially walking around the track 2m away from the fence is just great. You smell the car, the noise is incredible. I do not know about Baku but I expect it to be good as well.
I think classic tracks suck. Have you been to Spa, Hockenheim or Imola? There are just a few spots and you are 50-60m away from the track even on some of the popular grandstands! Any way to get close is the start/finish grandstands...but they are boring.

On top of that, and ignoring to rip off prices, Law\s Vegas sucks. It's so false it hurts. I went there exactly once, and left the next day as I just couldn't stand it.

Well, that is the point. If you go to a classic track you do not have a city that can suck. With all drawbacks like traffic jams on highways for hours, parking in the mud and walking forever.
In a city you get out of your hotel, restaurant, whatever and use a subway/metro/bus to get in 15min the track. You can walk around the Singapore track faster than what you need to get in Spa from the parking lot to the grandstands...

If you hate Vegas you just watch another race...if you like Vegas you can have the race in a comfy way together with some vacation.

But, I guess if you like to throw away money it's a great place to go. The 10:00 pm local start time also sucks. Advice to take the money and travel to Europe for a race is good advice.

I like the time. For Spore we had customers before FP1, then internal discussion between the FP. Before the race you can enjoy the city, hang your balls into the pool with the Ferrari guys and have a nice dinner.

I'm not sure what 'Spore' is. I've been to the Long Beach GP several time, as well as the inaugural Detroit GP, all with press passes. Anything but a press pass was rubbish. Glad you have the money to 'hang your balls in the pool with the Ferrari guys'. Most of us don't. With the 11:00 start time there will be zero viewing in the US of A. That's 1:00 am on the east coast....... Great stuff for corporations, BS for fans.

[Airshifter]

I'm really not expecting much from Vegas, but at the same time there are tracks that have been raced on for years that give nothing in the form of decent racing and action. I'll wait to see how the action on track is before condemning it.

[AR3-GP]

I'm really not expecting much from Vegas, but at the same time there are tracks that have been raced on for years that give nothing in the form of decent racing and action. I'll wait to see how the action on track is before condemning it.

I'm sure the track action will be fine. Lots of long straights and DRS zones.

It's just the track itself isn't very inspiring.

Just F1 cars going in straight lines, with a flatout kink here and there.

If Vegas wanted to stand out, they'd have constructed a half oval, half road course circuit but no one is interested in building unique circuits anymore. They just want to do the bare minimum to get people in overpriced seats.

[astracrazy]

I'm really not expecting much from Vegas, but at the same time there are tracks that have been raced on for years that give nothing in the form of decent racing and action. I'll wait to see how the action on track is before condemning it.

I'm sure the track action will be fine. Lots of long straights and DRS zones.

It's just the track itself isn't very inspiring.

Just F1 cars going in straight lines, with a flatout kink here and there.

If Vegas wanted to stand out, they'd have constructed a half oval, half road course circuit but no one is interested in building unique circuits anymore. They just want to do the bare minimum to get people in overpriced seats.

Not really sure I class easy overtakes in a straight line with DRS action.

[LHamilton]

Id rather have Las Vegas than Miami. Miami to me, as it is right know, is a poor mans Saudi Arabia, which its circuit I think is fine. Las Vegas to me can be one of those 'traction zone -> long straight' kinda track that works because its a one off, kinda. Im looking at something like old Hockenheim, which went out into the woods and had a lot of just straights and then into the stadium section. Quite a lot of people would like (or at least wanted to) have it back whenever Hockenheim were around the calendar. So I can see this fit that kinda of niche. It might become boring with DRS though, since people might just fly by. But I can see a world where traction zone and rear tyres might be talked about and more important here (Las Vegas) than most (or all) tracks.

[peewon]

Tracks which favor only one type of setup (straight line speed in this case) usually offer boring races because the cars get sorted out in the performance order pretty quickly. This is why Monza has been a terrible race for some time barring some accident or strategy mishap. Tracks which have different sections favoring different strengths usually are less predictable.

[AR3-GP]

Tracks which favor only one type of setup (straight line speed in this case) usually offer boring races because the cars get sorted out in the performance order pretty quickly. This is why Monza has been a terrible race for some time barring some accident or strategy mishap. Tracks which have different sections favoring different strengths usually are less predictable.

I agree. Vegas should be a Noah's ark weekend. Cars sorted by aero efficiency barring accidents.

[Rodak]

Tracks which favor only one type of setup (straight line speed in this case) usually offer boring races because the cars get sorted out in the performance order pretty quickly. This is why Monza has been a terrible race for some time barring some accident or strategy mishap. Tracks which have different sections favoring different strengths usually are less predictable.

I agree. Vegas should be a Noah's ark weekend. Cars sorted by aero efficiency barring accidents.

Yeah! It would be great if it rained!

[PlatinumZealot]

Track looks fun to race on. Expecting a Mario Kart-esque fight with strategies, set ups and passing.