Event organisers of the Las Vegas Grand Prix are putting on a free two-day fan experience during Formula 1’s return to Nevada in November.
Las Vegas is by far and away the most expensive Formula 1 race to attend on the Grand Prix calendar, with F1 Destinations listing the average ticket price at $1617, nearly double that of the second most expensive race, Miami ($878).
Throw in eye-watering six-figure hotel prices in some cases and Vegas appears as an event catered for the elite and not the average F1 fan.
However, this year’s ‘Ultimate Fan Experience,’ situated on Las Vegas Boulevard across from Wynn Las Vegas will allow fans to sample Formula 1 free of charge.
Free admission is being made for the two-day event, running from 10 am through 6 pm on November 22 and 23, but with spaces unsurprisingly limited, fans are being encouraged to secure tickets in advance, which will unlock the opportunity to gain discounted general admission tickets to the Grand Prix itself.
The event will feature live Q+A appearances from F1 teams and drivers along with an F1 Academy car showcase.
Moreover, live entertainment, an assortment of food offerings and multiple F1 partner activations will comprise the festival.
A free-to-fans event will help avoid some of the criticism levied at Las Vegas during its inaugural running of the GP last year.
Locals voiced their displeasure at the disruption in the lead-up to the event, with extensive building works required to host Formula 1 down the iconic Las Vegas Strip.
However, Formula 1 brought a massively beneficial economic impact to Las Vegas, to the tune of $1.5 billion.
Event organisers will be hoping for a smoother Grand Prix in 2024, after fans were escorted away from the circuit during opening practice last year following disruption.
Carlos Sainz ran over a loose drain cover in a curtailed opening practice session and by the time the necessary repairs were carried out, there wasn’t enough time to run FP2 with fans in attendance.
This was due to a curfew in place that meant F1 had to shut up shop in time for Las Vegas commuters to get about their daily business.
The fans who missed out on the opening days practice as a result were compensated with F1 store credit.
Formula 1 superfans Andy and Rachel surmised the inaugural Las Vegas Grand Prix perfectly, telling Motorsport Week that “It was a truly incredible spectacle, we loved Las Vegas and F1 in Vegas.
“And whilst a huge amount of the event was done brilliantly there is so much to learn for the event organisers for next year.
“We need more track action (a Sprint race here would be awesome), better in-zone entertainment, more choice on packages for the punters and the polishing of some of the gnarly edges that would have been more painful to rub up against if the racing hadn’t been quite so amazing.”
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