Formula 1 Returns to Las Vegas in 2023

Race weekend will see swarms of F1 and poker fans crowd the Vegas strip for perhaps the most exciting weekend of the season. The longevity of the 10 year, $1 billion deal ensures millions will flood into the city over the coming years. Clark County has stated that the race should “result in over $400 million in direct incremental spend” in Las Vegas next year and also expects to have an economic impact worth a staggering $700 million.

Formula 1 has struggled to break into the US market, but since Liberty Media's acquisition in 2017, their push to expand the reach of F1 has proved successful. This addition to the schedule totals three regular season races to take place on American soil. Undoubtedly, the introduction of the popular Netflix series 'Drive to Survive' has greatly helped Liberty's campaign to attract more interest from the states.

The previous Las Vegas Grand Prix was hosted in the parking lot of Caesars Palace 40 years ago, but the comeback race will take place on the Las Vegas Strip itself. The night-race will see the poker capital of the world transformed into a 6km track, winding past some of the city's most infamous landmarks. The thousands expected in attendance will witness 50 laps of high speed racing with cars reaching speeds of up to 212 mph.

With the circuit just a step away from every major casino, you can easily take a breather from the felt to see the likes of Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen speeding down the asphalt. Sadly we won't see recently-retired Kimi Raikonnen on the track, but you may see him at the tables as we did in Texas, throwing down chips with 'Wolfgang Poker'.

With the notoriously cheap hotel prices expected to soar for November, we recommend getting your Bellagio suite booked sooner rather than later. Fans are already wagering guesses for race day as the weekend before or after Thanksgiving, but without an official announcement from F1, booking now is certainly a risk.

This season has already had an interesting start, with Mercedes failing to dominate as they usually do. Hamilton has finished 3rd and 10th in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. Both Red Bulls retired in the opening race of 2022, but Verstappen secured a podium with P2 in the Saudi Grand Prix. Ferrari are looking the strongest of the pack with Leclerc placing P1 and P2 in the first two races. Could tables be turning against Toto Wolf and the Mercedes team?

In any case, the final standings in the '22 season will line-up our expectations for next year's championship and what may unfold on the streets of Las Vegas. So keep your eye on this year's events and perhaps look to free up your weekends in November for a few days of racing and poker madness.

Current F1 Standings: