the Las Vegas Grand Prix, an American-style mega-show

Formula 1 is in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA from Thursday 16th to Sunday 19th November. On the sporting side, there is no longer really a stake since the Dutch driver, Max Verstappen, is already assured of being world champion for the third time in a row. He broke a record by winning 17 of the 23 races already organized this year. On the other hand, what will be interesting is to see what the organizers have prepared over the last eight months to create an American-style mega-show.

Las Vegas is known for being the city of debauchery, gambling, vice, money and all excess and this image fits Formula 1 like a glove. Nearly 1.5 billion dollars was spent on a race that will last less than an hour. The giant paddock, the place where the stables will be installed, for example, cost 250 million dollars but the economic benefits should bring in at least as much, or twice as much as the Super Bowl, the final of the American football championship.

A package with Rolls-Royce and suite at Caesars Palace

The basic three-day ticket costs $1,500 per person. For its part, the “Emperor package” costs five million dollars. This includes a giant suite at the famous Caesars Palace from the film Very Bad Trip to invite and party with 75 people, also a Rolls-Royce with driver, prime seats to attend concerts by Will.I.am and Kylie Minogue, or even a drone show in the starry skies of Nevada.

The British driver, Lewis Hamilton even promises “the greatest race of all time”. The Frenchman Esteban Ocon is also a fan and finds this “tremendous”, unlike Max Verstappen who finds the circuit simplistic, not interesting. “It’s 99% show and 1% sport”, he summarizes while several cars were damaged during testing. Furthermore, the huge celebration around this Grand Prix which will start on Sunday November 19, at 7 a.m. (French time), could be spoiled by the threat of a strike by Las Vegas hotel employees.