“Everyone Hates the F1 Race”: Las Vegas GP’s Failed Traffic Measures Faces the Wrath of Residents

When it comes to the best cities for entertainment, there is arguably no place that can top that list other than Las Vegas. And it’s come with many perks for residents who have been able to live the American Dream and work in the wonderful hustle and bustle of Las Vegas amongst towering hotels and tourist-packed Casinos. But when Formula 1 decided to add to Sin City’s list of mega-events, they didn’t anticipate the amount of backlash the planning for the event would receive.

With over $500 million spent on the inaugural Las Vegas Grand Prix and the surfacing of the street circuit, Liberty Media is expecting a big return on investment. However, the disapproval and resistance from the Sin City community is posing a major threat to the future of the Vegas GP on the strip before it’s even started. But the cry from the local tax-payers about the major inconvenience has reached a boiling point.

The Las Vegas GP turns into a ‘nightmare’ for Sin City residents

In light of the widespread criticism raised by families and tourists who want to experience Las Vegas how it’s always been, Jalopnik interviewed over 15 people who were affected by the Vegas GP in one way or another. The common opinion was pretty jarring and it’s not what Liberty Media of the F1 community wants to hear about our beloved sport, but the reality is frankly limiting the locals in their day-to-day lives. “Life as I knew it ended when that construction started,” local author Lisa Lindell told Jalopnik.

Another local by the name of Celeste pulled no punches when shedding light on the plight of the common folk in the wake of the grand event, “The frustration, inconvenience and blatant disdain for residents living in Las Vegas is evident by the lack of information and coordination with everyone except the promoters of this exhibition.”

The workers were troubled by the entire situation, but it hasn’t been any better for tourists, with a tourist on a two-week vacation to Vegas telling Jalopnik, “Everything you read about traffic being a nightmare couldn’t be more true. Numerous lane restrictions on the Strip make it untravelable.”

READ MORE: Lewis Hamilton Attacks Las Vegas GP Organizers for “Negatively Affecting” Locals’ Lives

Even the interviewer’s family wasn’t left unscathed from the traffic jam chaos that ensued due to the resurfacing, her mother added, “Everyone hates the F1 race. He picked up a woman leaving work at the Sphere last night. She paid two hours wages to get home because the bus would have taken almost five hours with all the rerouting and traffic.”

‘Doesn’t just belong to the locals‘ – there are two sides to every story

Even though the Las Vegas GP is facing severe backlash, it’s not new for automotive shows to have a great time in Sin City. Just ask Drake Donovan from Car Show Life, who is attending one of the biggest car shows in the world, SEMA 2023. He spoke about the good these events do for the locals despite issues, “The Las Vegas Strip is one of those places in America that doesn’t just belong to the locals,” Donovan said. “It’s so well known to so many outsiders that we all feel a sense of ownership of it, but I hope there’s a benefit the locals can gain from all the inconvenience they’ve endured.”

The car enthusiast was joined in siding with Formula 1’s grand plan for the Vegas GP by a local who preferred to remain anonymous according to Jalopnik, “A handful of vocal people want to blame F1 for the terrible condition of our local streets. F1 is spending $90 million to repave a huge part of Las Vegas Boulevard that hasn’t been repaved for more than 20 years. [The series] will use this pavement for three days. The rest of the year, the county benefits.”

WATCH THIS STORY | Rich History of F1 races in Las Vegas Throughout the Years

It’s safe to say that while most of the criticism about the Las Vegas GP has accounted for the traffic jams and increase in travel time, if the race brings in adequate wealth and opportunity for the locals it might just be worth all the trouble they’ve had to endure. Only time will tell.