Over 40,000 turn out for F1’s Vegas launch party.
With Las Vegas returning to the Formula 1 calendar in 2023, Caesars Palace held an action-packed, exhilarating all-day event this past Saturday, to get thousands of fans into the F1 spirit.
More than 40,000 fans turned out in Las Vegas over the weekend to join in the launch party for next year’s grand prix along the iconic Strip.
Lewis Hamilton, George Russell, and Sergio Perez were on hand to provide car demonstrations in both modern and older machinery as Formula 1 closed down parts of Las Vegas Boulevard with just over one year to go until the third race in the United States joins the schedule.
“I am so excited to be here in Vegas,” Hamilton said “Just driving down that Strip, watching movies like so many of you have seen in Vegas, and the lights, this race is for sure going to be the best race of all time! We have races like Singapore, Monaco for example is pretty hectic. It’s definitely not going to be easy (to focus), but we’ll be here to try and win the race of course. Hopefully we get to enjoy a bit of what this city has to offer. Honestly it’s a surprise always to see so many people here, the whole way around the circuit and the support from all of you – people who have come out to Austin, Miami, it’s been phenomenal this year so thank you so much for the support.”
The Mercedes drivers had neon lights under their F1 cars as part of the demonstration and after trying out the track layout Russell says he expects the circuit to put on a show for fans.
“Vegas baby!” Russell said. “It’s super-exciting this race, it’s wild already, and this time next year it’s going to be crazy. I can’t wait for it. I don’t think this is going to probably be the most exciting one to drive, but for you guys watching I feel like this race is designed for good racing, for overtakes, entertainment, and I think it’s going to be super-exciting. But to be honest I don’t really care as long as we’re at the front – that’s what it’s all about!”
Where It all Starts and Finishes
As the symbolic start of the lead-up to the 2023 race, the afternoon began with a ‘Painting of the Start Line’ ceremony at the future site of the paddock building. Executives including the Formula 1 President and CEO Stefano Domenicali, Liberty Media President and CEO Greg Maffei and FORMULA 1 HEINEKEN® SILVER LAS VEGAS GRAND PRIX CEO Renee Wilm were joined by Governor Steve Sisolak, Chairman, Clark County Commission, Jim Gibson, local elected officials, local elected officials, partners and more to each paint a portion of the starting grid and toast to the year ahead.
The FORMULA 1 HEINEKEN® SILVER LAS VEGAS GRAND PRIX will be held on November 16-18, 2023. To receive further information about next year’s event, F1 fans can sign up for updates at f1lasvegasgp.com.
