Formula 1: How Las Vegas combines the best of F1 tracks
By Ian Higgins
What can fans expect from the 2023 Las Vegas Grand Prix, an addition to the calendar which sparked an uproar of support from the Formula 1 community?
A rare moment in which the entire Formula 1 community can collectively agree on something, the announcement of the Las Vegas Grand Prix has become a talking point of the season, and the anticipation over the next year and a half has already begun to build.
Initially rumored to be a rushed replacement for the canceled Russian Grand Prix in the back half of the calendar, the debut is set for Thanksgiving weekend next year.
Related Story. Top 10 most unbreakable records in racing. light
Heavily juxtaposing the glamour of Formula 1 with that of Las Vegas, this event will be one of few that can contemplate rivaling the luxury of Monaco. What is certain though is that Formula 1 has taken inspiration from their successes of the past decade in terms of track design and applied those lessons learned to one of their best potential atmospheres for racing.
Still subject to change before the beginning of construction, what can we expect of the Las Vegas Grand Prix regarding the track layout and its influence on the racing?
Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix features: No. 1 – Track width
Inspiration: Malaysia
Taking a lesson from the design flaws of Jeddah Corniche Circuit, the Las Vegas circuit is expected to bring back wide-berthed street circuits. Opening the track width also addressed the direct concern posed by Formula 1 fans about the inherent safety of the Saudi Arabian venue.
This expanded width from wall-to-wall will also directly improve wheel-to-wheel racing with room to run outside track limits and remain in the battle when forced wide.
Tracks in Hermann Tilke’s arsenal such as Sepang and Bahrain have normalized the expansion of Formula 1 track width, welcoming exhilarating racing in which leaders are unable to fully defend the width of the track. Though safety was likely the leading driver in the decision to expand the bounds of the circuit, the racing will be a beneficiary as well.