The Las Vegas Grand Prix organizers are content with sticking to a traditional race weekend instead of adding a sprint race. They feel that including a sprint could cause unnecessary anxiety.
With the Las Vegas Grand Prix joining the calendar in 2023, the U.S. now hosts three races each season. In 2024, Miami and Austin featured sprint races, which meant just one practice session before Friday afternoon’s sprint qualifying. The sprint itself happened on Saturday morning, followed by regular qualifying and the main Grand Prix on Sunday.
Las Vegas and the Sprint Race Debate
The Las Vegas GP is set for a Saturday night spectacle. Emily Prazer from Formula 1 shared thoughts with Reuters about having a sprint in Vegas. “I think one of the big takeaways from last year is how insanely good the racing was. We’re quite comfortable letting Austin and Miami keep the sprint, because we’ve got so much more happening anyway and we’re in a really good place,” she mentioned.
Adding to her point, Prazer expressed concerns about potential track issues if a sprint were added. Last year, Carlos Sainz‘s incident with a drain cover led to the cancellation of the first practice session.
Fans might wonder if keeping things simple is better for such an exciting location like Las Vegas.
The 2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix marks the beginning of Formula 1’s final showdown. Max Verstappen has a chance to clinch the championship in America, holding a 62-point lead over Lando Norris with three Grands Prix and one sprint left.
What do you think? Should Las Vegas stick to tradition or try something new?
