For Ecclestone, Las Vegas will (finally) be a success: “At the time, we couldn't run on the Strip”

After 41 years of absence, the Las Vegas Grand Prix makes its big return to the calendar of the Formula 1 ! During its first appearance, in 1981 and 1982, the round contested in the heart of Sin City was not convincing. Worse still: contested in the Caesars Palace parking lot, the race was strongly criticized and mocked by the F1 world, forcing the discipline to leave Nevada after only two performances.

More than four decades later, Las Vegas is back with new arguments. A brand new route, 6,2 kilometers long and above all, a passage in the famous Strip, the central and tourist route in the middle of the casinos and emblematic hotels of the city. A major advantage according to Bernie Ecclestone who believes that this new edition of the Las Vegas Grand Prix will be a success, unlike the 1980s.

“The only problem at the time was that we weren't able to run on the Strip, which is what I wanted to do, says the former big boss of F1. I wanted to make sure that when someone turned on their television, they knew they were in Vegas and not in the desert. They promised me we could do it. The first year we raced in this area which was the Caesars Palace parking lot, or part of it, but it was understood that the following year we could do what I had in mind. But it never happened because the people in Las Vegas, all the hotels, didn't see how it could be useful to them. That's why we never went back to Vegas (after 1982). »

Ecclestone cautious about future of Las Vegas GP

To convince as many spectators and television viewers as possible, Formula 1 will pull out all the stops with numerous events planned throughout the weekend. The race is expected to be a sell-out and Formula 1 and the sponsors are pulling out all the stops and spending a lot of money to attract high rollers and celebrities. According to Bernie Ecclestone, while he is certain that the 2023 edition will be a success, he remains cautious about the sustainability of the Las Vegas Grand Prix. Currently, he has a three-year contract, renewable at the end of this period.

“I hope it will be a success, but I'm not sure it will be successful in the long term, warns Ecclestone. I think the last thing on their mind is the race itself. Most likely there will be as many people as possible this time. Why would people pay so much money to go to Vegas when they can go to Austin and everything is so much better and so much easier? [F1] has a battle to fight. I hope they win, but I wouldn't want to bet on them. »

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