What Happened the Last Time F1 Raced in Las Vegas?

The F1 2022 calendar will feature Miami GP, which is the second race to be held after the US Grand Prix in Texas. However, F1 officially announced Las Vegas would be the third American circuit to join the F1 schedule next season. F1 teams and drivers are excited to drive in Sin City. But this isn’t the first time F1 went to vegas.

The F1 fans all over the world are excited about the Las Vegas GP next season. But few know that Formula One is returning to Vegas after four decades. In 1981 and 1982, Las Vegas was the host for the season finales. Further, the entire circuit was built in the car park of the infamous Caesars Palace. So, the official name for the race was Caesars Palace GP.

The Caesar Palace circuit was an enormous challenge for F1 drivers back then. As the circuit was in an anticlockwise direction. Also, the race took place during the daytime; thus, the drivers had to drive in burning heat. The drivers had to run on the circuit for 75-laps.

What Happened in the Caesars Palace GPs? 

The Williams legend, Alan Jones, won the 1981 season finale in Las Vegas. Further, Renault’s Alain Prost and Alfa Romeo‘s Bruno Giacomelli finished second and third in that race. Meanwhile, the Brazilian great Nelson Piquet finished fifth but bagged the championship title that year.

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In the 1982 Caesars Palace GP, the Tyrrel driver Michele Alboreto won the race while McLaren‘s John Watson and Ligier’s Eddie Cheever finished P2 and P3. Meanwhile, F1 legend Keke Rosberg finished fifth to win his driver’s title. Further, it was the last race for F1 legends like Mario Andretti, and two constructors, Ensign and Fittipaldi, bid adieu to the sport.

What’s different about the new F1 race in Las Vegas?

The new race in Vegas won’t be limited to the parking lot of Caesars Palace. Instead, it is going to be a street circuit and drivers will drive on a 3.8-mile circuit. Further, this circuit would feature 14 main corners and three long straights. The F1 drivers will drive for 50 laps on this circuit and they can hit a speed of around 210 mph.

The Las Vegas GP is not only got bigger and better this time compared to the 1981 and 82 races. But this time, the drivers won’t have to struggle against the burning heat during the daytime. Because the Vegas race is going to be a night race. The drivers will drive during the night when the city would light up with neon lights. Also, the drivers will pass by infamous hotels and casinos, including Caesar’s Palace.

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Not to forget, the Las Vegas GP would be a Saturday race instead of the traditional Sunday race. So, fans should look forward to the Las Vegas GP next season.