F1's Las Vegas GP spectacular: The questions you need answered

Las Vegas GP: What you need to know about F1 racing on the Strip, the track, schedule, opening ceremony, ticket prices Get set for a Formula 1 event like never before this week as the pinnacle of motor racing meets the Entertainment Capital of the World; watch the Las Vegas Grand Prix live on Sky Sports F1, with track action starting this Friday morning and Sunday’s race off at 6am Last Updated: 12/11/23 7:11pm Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player Sky Sports News' Craig Slater takes a look at Formula 1's Las Vegas track and what we can expect from the 'star-studded' race Sky Sports News' Craig Slater takes a look at Formula 1's Las Vegas track and what we can expect from the 'star-studded' race From racing down the iconic Strip and past the game-changing new Sphere, to how bustling Las Vegas has set up to stage F1 in front of a worldwide audience, it’s everything you need to know about this weekend’s extravaganza… Question 1: So Formula 1 is racing in Las Vegas? On the streets of Las Vegas?Yes, and yes again. There is certainly nothing misleading about the name of F1's newest Grand Prix. In what's arguably the biggest-ever event for the sport, and what Las Vegas stakeholders reckon will be the biggest sporting event of 2023, Formula 1 comes to the heart of the self-styled Entertainment Capital of the World on a new street circuit layout.The Strip. World-famous hotels and casinos. Neon lights. It certainly doesn't get more Las Vegas than this.Question 2: And F1 is actually racing on the Strip? A 1.4-mile stretch of the world-famous Las Vegas Boulevard - the road more commonly known as the Strip - will be fully taken over by F1 during the three-day race weekend.That'll ensure the most spectacular and iconic of backdrops to the racing action.Turning left on Sands Avenue at the junction of Las Vegas Boulevard at what is the F1 circuit's Turn 12, cars will reach speeds of over 212mph as they race past the Venetian on the left, Artistic impressions created by Tilke Design and Architects The F1 circuit will use one side of the existing carriageway on the Strip, with the 12-15m width allowing cars to go side-by-side as they vie for position in the Grand Prix.For a street circuit, it will be super-quick too: those top speeds will be comparable to Monza in Italy, which is referred to as F1's 'Temple of Speed'.Question 3: What else is there to know about the street track? The track - officially called the Las Vegas Strip Circuit - features 17 corners and runs to 3.8 miles, with the barrier-lined layout wrapping around the heart of the most iconic area of Vegas.All but four corners of the lap are on existing roads, which have been resurfaced ahead of the arrival of F1 during the course of this year.The track actually starts to the east of the Strip on a previously disused piece of land bought by F1 and US owners Liberty Media in 2022 at a cost of $240m. It has been substantially redeveloped to include a vast permanent pit building, garages and team areas, along with hospitality facilities, including the luxurious Paddock Club (more on which below).The pit building is the length of three American football fields and features a 28,000 sqft video screen made into the F1 logo on its roof. This redeveloped area also features the pit straight and the first four corners of the circuit.From there, the lap rejoins Koval Lane and then races towards the astonishing MSG Sphere - Vegas' new $2.3bn, 366-foot immersive music and entertainment arena that has captured global attention since opening in September. The orb structure features 1.2m LEDs on the outside, allowing the creation of dramatic displays.Question 4: How have they turned Vegas into an F1 circuit? Underlining the famously can-do attitude in Vegas, it has taken just 19 months since the deal with F1 was signed to make this first event a reality.Speaking to Sky Sports on the eve of race week, Las Vegas GP CEO Renee Wilm said: "I would say the biggest challenge is really just transportation planning. "We are essentially encapsulating 60,000 hotel rooms, workers, guests and visitors of Las Vegas. And how do we ensure that we are able to keep traffic moving, keep people moving when the track is hot?"And in that regard, we have installed three temporary bridges The roads that make up the circuit will start to shut from 5pm on each of the three days of F1 track activity and reopen from 2am.They will be what is described as "hot" - ready for track action - and handed over to officials from the FIA, F1's governing body, from 7pm each evening.Question 5: Is Vegas still operating as normal this weekend? Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player The next stop on the Formula 1 calender is the Las Vegas Grand Prix and you don't want to miss it! The next stop on the