F1 Returns to Las Vegas with Revised Schedule for 2025

Formula 1 is back on the iconic Las Vegas Strip for the first of three consecutive race weekends to conclude the 2025 season, where the Drivers' Championship will finally be settled. This marks the sport's third year in the Entertainment Capital of the World, with a few notable changes to enhance the event.

Why it matters:

The Las Vegas Grand Prix has quickly become a significant fixture on the F1 calendar, generating a substantial economic impact for the city, including $1.5 billion in its inaugural year and $934 million in its second. As F1, which promotes the race and owns part of the track's land, seeks to establish long-lasting roots, adjustments to the schedule and fan experience are crucial for sustained success and to further integrate the event into the sport's identity.

The Details:

• Revised 2025 Schedule: Both Qualifying and the Grand Prix have been brought forward by two hours to 8 PM local time (4 AM UK/Ireland on Saturday and Sunday, respectively). This aligns the Vegas race with F1's longest-established night race, Singapore, and is expected to be welcomed by paddock members and attendees due to cooler late-night temperatures in November.
• Circuit Remains: The 3.8-mile, 17-turn street circuit, known for its good racing, remains unchanged. It features a 1.2-mile straight down the famous Las Vegas Strip, passing landmarks like The Venetian, Bellagio fountains, and the Eiffel Tower.
• F1 Academy Debut: The all-female F1 Academy will be the first of F1's three official support series to race in Vegas, with its season finale determining the championship between Doriane Pin and Maya Weug.
• Evolving Fan Experience: Hospitality and fan offerings continue to evolve, with earlier releases of cheaper tickets and headline musical acts like Shaggy performing across various stages around the track.
• Title Decider Implications: While the Drivers' title cannot be mathematically settled in Vegas, Lando Norris, with a 24-point lead, could significantly close in on his first championship. A win for Norris would put him in a strong position to clinch the title as early as the next race in Qatar. Conversely, if Oscar Piastri wins and Norris fails to score, Piastri would retake the lead by a single point.
• Verstappen's Diminishing Hopes: Max Verstappen remains in mathematical contention for the title, 49 points behind Norris. A top-two finish for Verstappen in Vegas would keep his hopes alive, but if Norris outscores him by nine points or more, the title battle would officially become an all-McLaren two-horse race.

Between the Lines:

Ferrari arrives in Vegas in fourth place in the Constructors' Championship, having drawn public criticism from chairman John Elkann after a double DNF in Brazil. Elkann's remarks, urging drivers Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc to “focus on driving and talk less” and calling team areas outside of engineering “not up to standard,” have put the Scuderia under intense scrutiny. Ferrari is only four points behind third-placed Red Bull but 36 adrift of Mercedes. The upcoming media day in Vegas will be the first opportunity for Leclerc and Hamilton to address these comments publicly, sparking anticipation for their reactions and renewed focus on track performance.

What's next:

The revised schedule and enhanced fan experience aim to solidify the Las Vegas Grand Prix's place as a premier event on the F1 calendar. With the Drivers' Championship reaching its climax and internal team dynamics at Ferrari under the spotlight, this weekend promises high stakes both on and off the track. The focus will be on Norris's championship push, McLaren's performance on a historically challenging circuit for them, and how Ferrari responds to their chairman's intervention as the season heads towards its final two races in Qatar and Abu Dhabi.