What Were the Crippling Issues That Made F1 Withdraw From Las Vegas in the ’80s? Could They Come Back Haunting?

We’re less than two weeks away from one of the most anticipated race weekends of the season. It’s the joining together of the most glamorous sports in the world and one of the most glamorous places on the planet. Formula 1 meets Las Vegas. Las Vegas meets Formula 1. The Formula 1 community and everyone in Sin City, meet the Las Vegas GP. Although 2023 will see the inaugural Las Vegas GP, this wouldn’t be the first time F1 will visit the Neon Capital of the world. 

Considering all the hype around the 2023 Las Vegas GP, you’d think F1’s first (and only) couple of visits in 1981 and 1982 were giant successes. Well, in terms of hosting a race, yes. It was a success. But in terms of its appeal and the atmosphere that should’ve accompanied the glamor of Vegas, the Caesars Palace GP was a huge letdown. So what exactly made F1 not give Vegas a second glance for four decades?

Las Vegas didn’t live up to its expectations

First off, how did F1 even think of going to Vegas in the first place? For 20 years—from 1961 to 1980—the famous Watkins Glen held the US GP. In the 80s, F1 was just starting to get more money-minded. After the 1980 season finale in Watkins Glen, the circuit pulled out because it couldn’t afford the sanctioning fees. F1 was forced to look elsewhere, and where better than the equally money-minded scene of Las Vegas? Considering how popular the city and its Strip were, it gave the perfect opening to bring F1 to Nevada. 

Instead of showcasing the streets of Vegas, F1 stayed confined to the Strip. More specifically, to the parking lot of Caesars Palace on the Strip. That’s where F1 made the first mistake. Because of the limited space, track designers couldn’t really experiment with anything and laid out a $3.5 million circuit with 14 corners and no elevation changes. To make it a little different, they made it anticlockwise. In a time when anticlockwise circuits weren’t as prevalent as they are now, that aspect was a tough one to navigate.

To add to the demands of the anticlockwise layout, the Caesars Palace GP was a day race. That meant it was under the blazing heat of Nevada, in the middle of a desert. The two years it took place as the season finale were both title deciders. While that should’ve created extra excitement, the track’s layout didn’t really do either season justice. Especially considering F1 raced at good tracks like Watkins Glen and Laguna Seca previously.

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Oh, and because both editions of the race were title deciders, shouldn’t the stands have been packed with fans? They should’ve, but they weren’t. Forty years ago, F1 wasn’t as big in the US as it is now. The organizers thought the Vegas appeal would bring fans from around the globe to witness the action. It was the complete opposite. That was the last straw that compelled F1 to withdraw from Las Vegas. The question is: will the 2023 edition and the ones to come be any different?

Will the Las Vegas GP be different from the Caesars Palace GP?

Here’s the first difference between the two races: the Las Vegas GP will actually be on the streets of Las Vegas. The Las Vegas Street Circuit is a 3.8-mile, 14-corner anticlockwise track with three straights and a mix of corners. Apart from the circuit-building costs, F1 owner Liberty Media has invested $240 million in the project, aiming to generate a revenue of $500 million over the race weekend. With this being the first time ever that F1 is promoting a race on its own, it looks like the organization is confident about the spectacle it has promised.

In terms of the temperatures, it will be a night race. In November. Temperatures are predicted to drop to as low as 5C during the weekend, adding an extra layer of challenge for teams. While they do their winter testing in such conditions, it’ll be the first time drivers will be competing in such conditions. Considering it’s a street circuit, and the layout is such that overtaking may be difficult, the 50-lap race might not be as engaging as the US GP in the Circuit of the Americas. But the race intends to bring a new set of fans to the sport, ones that know the glamorous Vegas life, and would also like a taste of F1.

Speaking of fans, since F1’s interest has increased so much in the US since Liberty Media took over, the grandstands are expected to be jam-packed. So the problems the Caesars Palace GP faced in terms of fan turnout may not be a problem for the Las Vegas GP. that’s not to say that the Las Vegas GP hasn’t had any problems. In fact, it’s been riddled with problems since preparations started. In terms of the racing spectacle, though, the Las Vegas GP is set to deliver!

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

Are you excited to see 20 of the best drivers in the world compete in the streets of Las Vegas in less than two weeks’ time?