![](https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/GettyImages-1388699178.jpg?width=600)
via Getty
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – MARCH 30: Formula One Group President and CEO Stefano Domenicali attends the Formula 1 Las Vegas Race 2023 announcement at the Boulevard Pool at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas on March 30, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. F1 announced a third U.S. circuit race for November 2023 in Las Vegas. (Photo by Ethan Miller – Formula 1/Formula 1 via Getty Images)
![](https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/GettyImages-1388699178.jpg?width=600)
via Getty
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – MARCH 30: Formula One Group President and CEO Stefano Domenicali attends the Formula 1 Las Vegas Race 2023 announcement at the Boulevard Pool at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas on March 30, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. F1 announced a third U.S. circuit race for November 2023 in Las Vegas. (Photo by Ethan Miller – Formula 1/Formula 1 via Getty Images)
If it wasn’t already, the rising popularity of Formula 1 should be evident with the Las Vegas Grand Prix weekend. No, another new venue does not necessarily mean the sport’s popularity is skyrocketing. Formula 1 has been around the block for quite some time and every country wants to bring the experience to the public. It’s a good tourist attraction as well and brings in revenue. The correlation between F1’s popularity and the Las Vegas GP is because of this new initiative from the sport’s owners. This new initiative could earn Liberty Media a whopping $500 million.
However, this $500 million blinder might be why the sport has not kept the best interests of the most important stakeholders at heart, the fans. First, for the unaware, let us tell you about this $500 million scenario. For the first time since their takeover and perhaps in a long while, the owners of F1, aka Liberty Media, will also act as organizers. After its announcement in 2022, Vegas GP became a highly anticipated race weekend.
To tap into its potential, instead of outsourcing its organizational duties to a third party, Liberty Media took the responsibility upon itself. Although for no humble reasons, like ensuring a streamlined and spotless race weekend. Liberty Media wants to tap into the monetary potential of the weekend, which is close to, you guessed it, $500 million. This is exactly why the owners have invested $240 million in a 39-acre piece of land just for the race weekend. However, in their attempts to maximize the revenue generation from the weekend, the owners have forgotten about the fans. Let us tell you how.
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The Las Vegas Grand Prix has officially announced it’s race schedule. Here are the timings converted to CET (The times listed in the image are PST)
Thursday: Opening Ceremony – 4:30am
Friday: FP1 – 5:30am
FP2 – 9:00amSaturday: FP3 – 5:30am… pic.twitter.com/jlK3ItjXEM
— Fastest Pitstop (@FastestPitStop) October 10, 2023
Ahead of the race weekend, Vegas GP’s schedule was released on all social media. The opening ceremony will commence at 7:30 PM on Wednesday, November 15. However, the timings for the rest of the weekend are a little concerning for the fans. FP will commence at 12:00 AM on Thursday, Nov 16, and go on till 1:00 AM on Friday, Nov 17.
The qualifying session will follow a similar schedule the next day and the main event will commence at 10:00 PM on Saturday, November 18.
Read More: Las Vegas Forced Into Extravagant $9,000,000 Move as Super Bowl & F1 Increase the Bill Significantly
These timings are cause for concern and backlash from the fans.
Fans question and criticize the extremely late timing for the Las Vegas GP weekend
The fans are annoyed by the schedule for the entire race weekend. A fan who would’ve purchased an extremely expensive ticket for the entire weekend would have to think twice before attending the first two practice sessions on a weekday.
In fact, the qualifying as well is extremely late for any normal functioning adult. This is exactly the reason behind the backlash from the fans and most of them are asking one question, “Why the hell is it so late?” Some are calling it the worst schedule ever.
Why the hell is it so late
— Joey Tartamella (@JackhammerJT) October 10, 2023
This is the worst schedule ever.
— Orchid (@HeyItsOrchid) October 10, 2023
Lol what weird times
— mrgtr16 (@mrgtr16) October 11, 2023
WATCH THIS STORY: Rich History of F1 races in Las Vegas Throughout the Years
Ridiculous times…
— Rodolfo F. Ledesma 🇩🇴🇺🇸 (@rodolfo_ledesma) October 10, 2023
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What the hell are these times. Even as someone in the US these times are whack. 2am qualifying local time… midnight race start? Might as well be thr Australia GP
— lex courtney (@lex_courtney) October 10, 2023
Even in PST these times are brutal, like I'll be staying up instead of getting up but they are just as bad as some of the EMEA races.
— Joshmo =^_^= (@eyesofmimir) October 10, 2023
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In fact, the timing will change and go from bad to worse for fans within the American subcontinent as well. For example, the race will start at 1 AM for a fan watching the race from New York. Difficult race weekend to follow for most fans. Let’s hope the word reaches the F1 bosses, and the schedule is revamped.