Formula’s One’s historic 2023 Las Vegas Grand Prix begins on Friday (AEDT) with drivers and teams to get their first crack at the temporary street circuit over two practice sessions.
It’s already been a dramatic build-up, with world champion Max Verstappen making it clear on Thursday he’s not a huge fan of the circus surrounding the sport’s 40-year return to Sin City.
But focus will now shift to the track, with a 6.2km, 17-turn course expected to produce high speeds and plenty of overtaking. Follow all the build-up action live below.
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ULTIMATE GUIDE: Everything you need to know
Cox backing Lando ahead of Vegas ‘party’ | 00:44
FEARS FOR ‘SLIPPERY’ PRACTICE TRACK
Drivers are ready to head out for their first practice at the Vegas Grand Prix on Friday (AEDT) but they’ve been warned to drive to the conditions.
Formula One commentator Martin Brundle said drivers needed to take extra care in this opening session.
“Lot of energy, lot of people here,” he said.
“It’s going to be super slippery out there.
“New surface, dusty, no support races – I think the drivers are going to have quite an adventure to get up and running.”
Commentator Karun Chandhok said forecasts for Friday showed the rain should stay away.
“The safety car went out in wet conditions last night,” he said.
“The track had puddles in a few places but the track it is dry and the forecast for the moment is for it to stay this way.”
US racing expert Danika Patrick said the first practice needed to be a “recon session” for drivers.
“You’ve got to make no mistakes – just explore the track. Get a feel for these temperatures,” she said.
“They are just cleaning the track off… this is like a recon session.”
DRIVERS READY FOR BRUTAL JETLAG TEST
It’s going to be a tiring finish to the season for everyone involved, and not just because of some brutal Vegas session times including Practice 2 and qualifying beginning at midnight local.
Vegas is the penultimate race of the season and the drivers and their teams will pack up after Sunday’s race and head straight for Abu Dhabi for the season finale.
That’s a brutal turnaround after what’s already been a gruelling season and many are expecting fatigue to be a factor over the next fortnight.
“When you’re here (Las Vegas), it’s not so much a problem,” said Verstappen. “But then we have to fly to Abu Dhabi, where it’s already 12 hours difference, but then also a completely different time zone.
“Basically, we live on a Japanese time schedule, but then almost a different day. So I don’t really get that. I mean, that is very tiring, and also at the end of this season that we have to do this. It doesn’t really make a lot of sense.”
Veteran Fernando Alonso is also not a fan saying “it’s not OK … but it’s the way it is”, while Haas driver Nico Hulkenberg agreed managing jet lag would be a key factor.
“Some suffer more than others,” he said.
“It’s going to be a challenge, and maybe you’re not going to feel super sharp on Friday or Saturday. But I think it’s same for all of us, and we have to manage and cope the best we can.”
Take a tour of the Las Vegas track | 01:48
RICCIARDO’S SEASON-ENDING GOALS
In what’s been an eventful season featuring two comebacks — one to the circuit and another from injury — Daniel Ricciardo is looking to finish with a bang.
The Australian has been racing impressively and wants to coninue to push his AlphaTauri car for more improvement in Las Vegas, and the season-ending event in Abu Dhabi next week, before his first full season with the team next year.
“I’ve been really happy with the short amount of time we’ve had. I think it hasn’t always shown on paper but even last week (in Brazil) because as painful as it was starting a race essentially a lap down, I think we still showed really good signs of speed and understanding of the car in progress and I’m feeling more and more comfortable,” Ricciardo said.
“So I’m quickly ticking a lot of boxes I wanted and really now it’s to continue that feeling and continue kind of just finding a little bit more out of setup because I think we found quite a bit since Mexico.
“So if we could maybe still find another tenth (of a second) or two, that would be cool.”
Ricciardo also wants to wants to help close the seven-point gap from AlphaTauri to seventh-placed Williams.
“We have a sniff of seventh in Constructors’ … (I’m going to) try to do everything I can to help contribute,” he said.
“I mean looking at the long straights here, you look at Williams and it could be strong for them but I think we’ve got a chance so I’m going to try and make it happen.
“… I think if we could get seventh, I think no one really thought that was going to happen pre-Austin so that would feel like a bit of a victory for us.”
VEGAS GP SCHEDULE (ALL TIMES AEDT)
FRIDAY
Practice 1 – 3.30pm
Practice 2 – 7pm
SATURDAY
Practice 3 – 3.30pm
Qualifying – 7pm
SUNDAY
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