"Timing is tough, but the race is amazing at Las Vegas", claim Hamilton and Russell
Reflecting on the challenges of the Las Vegas Grand Prix, seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton reckons that the race is "absolutely fantastic" despite its own difficulties.
Last weekend's Nevadan race was the second Las Vegas Grand Prix. However, last year's inaugural race was not the first grand prix to take place in the city. In 1981 and 1982 Los Vegas hosted the Caesars Palace Grand Prix on a course laid out around what was then the parking lot of the famous hotel and casino.
In 1981, Australian driver Alan Jones came out victorious in the 75-lap race, driving a Williams-Ford, with Frenchman Alain Prost second in a Renault and Italian Bruno Giacomelli third in an Alfa Romeo. The following season saw Michele Alboreto win the Caesars Palace Grand Prix, driving a Tyrrell-Ford.
With the Las Vegas Grand Prix taking place at night, drivers have to follow an unusual routine to keep themselves fresh for the time the qualifying and the race takes place while they also need to get themselves ready for next weekend's Qatar Grand Prix that will be stages in a very different time zone.
Asked to comment on the challenges, Lewis Hamilton said: "I think it's great. I mean the race is amazing, so really happy to… Yeah for sure the back-to-back is not the easiest. It's massively challenging for everyone here, and particularly for the people that work in the garages that are on their feet taking the car to pieces now, packing it up and shipping it over, and they won't get a lot of rest.
"So for them, it's definitely the hardest, but they love it, and I don't even think if you were to ask them to change it, they would do this 10 times over. But the actual race is absolutely fantastic. It's such a great event. They've really, really done a mega job this year. So I can't wait to come back next year.
His team-mate George Russell thinks that a week off after the Las Vegas would take pressure off the shoulders of the F1 field and the teams in the future.
I mean, obviously, it's not great timing at all for the people who are here in the moment. But we're 20 drivers, let's say 4,000 people who do all the F1 races collectively.
"And there's tens of millions of people who watch at home. So I'd probably say having it back-to-back with Qatar is the biggest challenge. If we have a week off afterwards, I'd say that's probably the only thing realistically that would help.
Having finished on the last step of the podium at last Saturday's Las Vegas Grand Prix, Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz reckons that while last year's Nevadan race was "more of a show", this year things have calmed down which allowed the field to complete a "more normal" F1 weekend.
"I think it's been a step forward compared to last year. I feel like last year, F1, if anything, was trying a bit too hard to put on too much of a show. It got a bit too much away from Formula 1 and too much into Vegas style.
"And I feel like this year we've just been just more normal doing our own thing. And it's been a success. It just shows the Formula 1 product works and you don't need to try too hard. And yeah, I'd bring the race a couple hours earlier if I could.
"I think it would help everyone in the paddock, everyone that does the job in this sport, I think, would put everyone in a healthier, better mood through the weekend. So a couple of hours early race and timings and not a back-to-back with Qatar.
"That's what I would ask everyone as the next step. For the rest, great circuit to put on a good race, great for overtaking, challenging track. I wouldn't change anything, just those two details. And I think everything will be better," concluded Sainz.
