Las Vegas Strip Circuit, Characteristics of the Sin City Circuit
F1 returns to the world's most famous Sin City: Las Vegas! Let's discover the Strip Circuit and the characteristics that make it unique (and talked about) in its genre.
The Las Vegas Strip Circuit is one of the most spectacular and modern venues on the Formula 1 calendar, host to the Las Vegas Grand Prix. Located in the heart of the city that symbolizes luxury and entertainment, this night circuit combines the adrenaline of motorsport’s most prestigious competition with the electric atmosphere of the world’s entertainment capital.
Las Vegas Circuit Characteristics
Inaugurated in 2023, the circuit runs along the famous Strip, with cars racing past iconic hotels like the Bellagio, Caesars Palace and the Venetian. It’s an event that’s not just a race, but a real show: lights, speed and glamour merge into a unique experience, where Formula 1 meets Las Vegas.
With its 6.201 km, the Las Vegas Strip Circuit is one of the longest tracks of the season, but also among the fastest: the endless straights allow speeds exceeding 340 km/h, while the slow corners and street-style direction changes test drivers’ precision.
The layout, designed by Tilke Engineers & Architects, features 17 corners (9 right and 8 left) and is run counterclockwise. The asphalt, new and very smooth, provides great grip but tends to cool quickly during night hours, complicating tire management.
The two DRS zones, one on the main Strip straight and the other between turn 4 and turn 5, favor overtaking, but the race remains strategically complex: low temperature, stressed brakes and poor visibility in some sections can change everything in a few moments.
The Las Vegas Circuit Lap
The Las Vegas Strip Circuit lap begins with a tricky first braking zone, followed by a series of tight corners leading to the most technical sector, at Koval Lane.
The heart of the circuit is the Strip straight: more than 1.9 km at full throttle in front of hotel and casino lights, with top speeds among the highest in the world championship. This is where many overtakes are decided, but also where slipstream and brake management becomes crucial.
The final sector, with corners like 14 and 16, requires great traction and sensitivity, before returning to the finish line. It’s a track that punishes concentration errors but rewards those who dare, just like a gambler at the green table.
The Strip Straight is the symbol of the Las Vegas Grand Prix: a breathtaking straight almost two kilometers long, framed by casino neon lights. Here the power of the power units is laid bare and DRS makes the difference.
It’s the perfect representation of the Las Vegas spirit: brilliant, spectacular and unpredictable.
Technical Data – Las Vegas Strip Circuit
| CHARACTERISTIC | DESCRIPTION |
|---|---|
| Track length | 6.201 km |
| Race laps | 50 |
| Total distance | 310.05 km |
| Number of corners | 17 (9 right, 8 left) |
| DRS zones | 2 (main Strip and section between turn 4 and 5) |
| Iconic corner | The Strip Straight – 1.9 km straight |
| Maximum speed | Over 340 km/h |
| Average pit stop time | About 21 seconds |
| First F1 edition | 2023 (Max Verstappen victory) |
| Last winner (2024) | Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) |
| 2024 pole position | Lando Norris – 1:31.047 |
| Race lap record | 1:33.221 – Max Verstappen (2023, Red Bull RB19) |
| Typical weather conditions | Cool and dry (10–15°C), night race |
The 17 Corners of the Las Vegas Circuit
| Corner No. | Name/Position | Description / Characteristic |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Koval Lane Entry | Hard braking after the start straight. |
| 2 | Harmon Avenue | Tight left corner, important for traction. |
| 3 | Paradise Curve | Slow sequence with downhill braking. |
| 4 | Sphere Corner | Scenic passage near the Las Vegas sphere. |
| 5 | East Harmon | Technical corner leading into the central section. |
| 6 | Sands Avenue | 90° right corner, typically urban. |
| 7 | Venetian Bend | Spectacular section near the Venetian Hotel. |
| 8 | Wynn Curve | Medium-speed banked corner. |
| 9 | Flamingo Corner | Tight and technical, difficult for lock-ups. |
| 10 | Caesars Section | Left corner leading onto the main straight. |
| 11 | The Strip Straight | 1.9 km flat out along the Strip. |
| 12 | Mirage Bend | Slight kink in the middle of the straight. |
| 13 | Bellagio Hairpin | Spectacular hairpin in front of the fountains. |
| 14 | Cosmopolitan Curve | Slow and winding, difficult to find traction. |
| 15 | Tropicana Turn | Critical braking zone, where overtakes often happen. |
| 16 | Pit Entry Curve | Last direction change before the finish line. |
| 17 | Start-Finish | End of lap and opening of the main DRS zone. |
Statistics and Trivia
- Most successful team: Mercedes and Red Bull – 1 victory each
- Youngest pole: Lando Norris (2024)
- Latest fastest lap: Max Verstappen (2023, 1:33.221)
- Record attendance: over 315,000 spectators in the inaugural 2023 weekend
Las Vegas Grand Prix History
The Las Vegas Grand Prix officially debuted on the Formula 1 calendar in 2023, bringing the circus back to the “Sin City” after over forty years. In the past, two editions were held in 1981 and 1982 on the Caesars Palace circuit, a temporary track built in the hotel parking lot, soon forgotten for its flat and unspectacular nature.
The new version of the GP, however, has revolutionized everything: the race takes place at night, on Saturday, with the illuminated skyline as backdrop. It immediately became one of the most media-covered and followed events of the season, so much so that it was defined as “the event of the year” by Liberty Media.
Finishing Order – Recent Las Vegas GP Editions
| SEASON | FINISHING ORDER |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 1 – George Russell (Mercedes) 2 – Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) 3 – Carlos Sainz (Ferrari) |
| 2023 | 1 – Max Verstappen (Red Bull) 2 – Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) 3 – Sergio Pérez (Red Bull) |
