Formula 1 announced earlier this week that it would return to Las Vegas in 2023, organizing a new grand prix that would incorporate the iconic Strip, the area with the most hotels, casinos and resorts, around a 6.12 km street circuit. .
Las Vegas has signed an initial three-year deal to host a race to be held on Saturday night in the US, joining existing events in Miami and Austin on North American soil.
This means that the United States will be the country that will host the most tests next year, with three events in different time zones. The time that the lights go out will be 10:00 p.m. in Las Vegas, which means that the new race will be broadcast in prime time on the West Coast of the United States, and it will be a race in the first hour Sunday morning in Europe.
Stefano Domenicali , CEO of Formula 1, said that he is not afraid that this will cause the US market to be diluted, as he believes that each grand prix will attract a slightly different audience.
“It is an added value for everyone, because we are reaching different objectives in terms of demographics and location,” said the Italian. “The beautiful thing about the growth of our category in this country is that we are reaching a lot of young people who are starting to get excited about it.”
“We have seen the drivers before our eyes, [they are] very young. They have the possibility to share through social channels also who they are, promoting our sport.”
“Through them, I think a great connection will be created to develop the sport in the right dimension with the right ideas.”
Liberty Media CEO Greg Maffei is confident that the three races on American soil will not only complement each other, but will attract an international audience.
“One of the special things about Formula 1 is its global character,” said Maffei. “The public that shows up in Miami will be a global public, the public that attends the race in Austin is global.”
“I am absolutely convinced that the audience that goes to Las Vegas will be a global audience, not just Americans.”
F1 recorded a capacity of 400,000 spectators at the United States Grand Prix held in Austin in 2021, which demonstrates the growth of the category in the United States market, despite having previously struggled to capture the audience.
The Miami Grand Prix will debut on the calendar this year, while Austin has signed a new 10-year deal to host the United States Grand Prix before the 2022 season begins.
Summing up the growth of the North American nation, Domenicali said: “If you think about where we were three years ago, it was hard to have a crowded grand prix. Now we’re heading into a situation where this year we’re going to have two sold-out events in its entirety.”
“This shows you the magnitude of what the United States is going to represent for Formula 1. We feel the vibrations, we feel that it is something that should really belong to this country. It is a huge opportunity.
“And to think that next year we’re going to have three races in the US, if you look back a couple of years, you’d say you’re crazy.”
“We are focused on this being one of the most important markets for F1, without forgetting, of course, that we were born in Europe, and that we are a global sport.”
“This is our dimension, and we will continue as before in that sense.”
