Formula 1 has turned its Las Vegas Grand Prix paddock into an “immersive fan experience” which will open to the public next month.
Jenson Button and Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali attended a preview event at the Grand Prix Plaza on Friday.A key attraction of the facility is F1 Drive, a karting circuit which incorporates sections of the Las Vegas Strip Circuit pit lane and garages. The karts are equipped with “F1-style DRS technology” and steering wheel displays.
Button raced from last to first against a group of VIPs on the kart track. He and the other podium finishers, owners of two local casinos, were presented with a bottle of champagne by Domenicali. ‘Mr Las Vegas’ Wayne Newton waved the chequered flag.
Other attractions at Grand Prix Plaza include ‘F1 X’, which features a collection of past F1 cars, drivers’ helmets and other memorabilia. Among the cars on display are two Ferraris from 2013 and 1961, a Red Bull RB7 of the type Sebastian Vettel used to win his second world championship in 2011, a Lotus 80 from 1979 and a recent Aston Martin.
F1 X also offers “hands-on activities where visitors can design their own virtual F1 car and put it to the test on the virtual track,” the promoter says. Fans can drive on F1 simulators and inspect recreations of teams’ pit walls.
The Grand Prix Plaza will open to the public on May 2nd. It will close in late summer in order for preparations to begin for the third grand prix at the venue, which will take place on November 22nd. Tickets are available at grandprixplaza.com.
F1 is also offering event spaces for hire at the facility, known as the Turn 1 Lounge, Cool Down Room and GPP Garage.
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Pictures: Formula 1 Grand Prix Plaza launch, Las Vegas
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S Arkazam
1st April 2025, 11:38
I would’ve made those carts look more like current F1 cars (within what is allowed due to safety regulations):
– paint front wing on bumper
– add wing (to headrest)
– And today they could’ve presented it with a halo.
rprp
1st April 2025, 12:47
Part of me wants this to fail, to discourage the eve-increasing trend of creating street races because they’re shiny. You don’t have the problem of “what should I do with this building” with purpose built tracks because they’re always in use for track days, other racing categories, conferences, etc.
Nothing against Las Vegas GP, the races haven’t been too bad. But it’s unnecessary (outside of commercial considerations). There are plenty of great tracks around the world that could’ve been used instead of having a Las Vegas GP.
Deerhunter
1st April 2025, 15:43
For the last Malaysian Grand Prix in 2017, Petronas set up an exhibition of sorts by the Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur.
Me and a bunch of friends played the pitstop simulator with an old BMW Sauber car they have on hand. I was nowhere near as fit as I am now then, and I could barely lift those tires, man.
But it was a lot of fun, and it’s great that F1 is trying to do more of that stuff. A bit of a shame to have to do that in Las Vegas of all places though, even if the karting thing looks neat.
PlosslF1 (@f1-ploss)
1st April 2025, 17:37
I got to this ‘The karts are equipped with “F1-style DRS technology” and steering wheel displays.’ then checked the date :)
El Pollo Loco
2nd April 2025, 14:20
It’s all real. I just DRS’ed a competitor and then put them in the wall. That little six-year-old girl had no idea what hit her.
CarWars (@maxv)
3rd April 2025, 11:31
So this will be 200 dollar for 5minutes?