The Las Vegas Grand Prix is about to give F1 drivers a whole new challenge: racing in near-freezing temperatures.
Drivers will face temperatures as low as 7°C (45°F) when they hit the famous Strip at night, making it one of the coldest F1 races in recent memory.
It’s going to be a real headache for teams trying to keep their tires warm enough to grip the track. F1 cars are built for heat, not cold, and getting those tires to work properly below 10°C is like trying to run in frozen sneakers.
Max Verstappen could make history here by clinching his fourth straight World Championship. But even the dominant Red Bull driver will have to master these tricky conditions first.
The weekend kicks off Thursday night with practice sessions, when temperatures will plummet from a comfortable 18°C during the day to a chilly 7°C after sunset. At least rain isn’t likely to add to the challenge – there’s only a 22% chance of precipitation.
Friday’s qualifying session won’t be any warmer, hovering around 8°C.
Race day on Saturday might feel slightly less brutal at 10°C, but there’s a catch: wind speeds are expected to hit 10mph, with a shift from northern to southern winds that could throw another curveball at drivers navigating between the city’s towering casinos.
The humidity will climb to 34% by race time – not enough to cause major problems, but definitely something teams will factor into their strategy.
The 6.2km street circuit is a complete unknown for most drivers, and these cold conditions make an already challenging situation even trickier. We might see some surprising results as teams and drivers scramble to adapt their usual warm-weather setups to these unusually frigid racing conditions.
