# 2023 Las Vegas Grand Prix
The **2023 Las Vegas Grand Prix**, run as the Formula 1 Heineken Silver Las Vegas Grand Prix, was a [Formula One World Championship](https://www.edgepedia.org/formula-one-world-championship) round held on 16–18 November 2023 on the [Las Vegas Strip Circuit](https://www.edgepedia.org/las-vegas-strip-circuit), a 3.8-mile (6.2 km) street course using parts of the [Las Vegas Strip](https://www.edgepedia.org/las-vegas-strip). It was the inaugural running of the modern Las Vegas Grand Prix and the first Formula 1 race in Las Vegas since the Caesars Palace Grand Prix of 1981 and 1982.[1](https://www.formula1.com/en/racing/2023/las-vegas) Max Verstappen of Red Bull Racing won the 50-lap race in 1:29:08.289, ahead of Charles Leclerc of Ferrari and Sergio Pérez of Red Bull.[2](https://www.formula1.com/en/results/2023/races/1225/las-vegas/race-result)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Dates | 16–18 November 2023, Las Vegas Strip Circuit, Las Vegas, Nevada[2](https://www.formula1.com/en/results/2023/races/1225/las-vegas/race-result) |
| Circuit | 3.8 miles (6.2 km), 17 turns, anti-clockwise, 50 laps; forecast top speed 212 mph (342 km/h)[3](https://www.fia.com/sites/default/files/las_vegas_grand_prix_2023_media_kit_fia_accredited_1.pdf) |
| Winner | Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing Honda RBPT, 1:29:08.289; Leclerc +2.070s, Pérez +2.241s[2](https://www.formula1.com/en/results/2023/races/1225/las-vegas/race-result) |
| Opening-night incident | First practice stopped after about eight minutes when a concrete frame around a manhole cover failed under Carlos Sainz's Ferrari[4](https://www.fia.com/news/f1-first-practice-session-las-vegas-stopped-circuit-repairs-following-sainz-incident) |
| Promoter | Liberty Media Corporation promoted and organized the race alongside Formula 1, the first grand prix the company self-promoted[3](https://www.fia.com/sites/default/files/las_vegas_grand_prix_2023_media_kit_fia_accredited_1.pdf) • [5](https://slite.dma.mil/issues/nov2023/20231119.pdf) |
| Economic impact | Clark County's debriefing report put total economic impact of race spending at $884 million, with ripple effects translating into $587 million of local economic impact[6](https://clark.legistar.com/View.ashx?GUID=DBA17D81-8594-458A-8115-F3F4623E2CB4&ID=12771017&M=F) |
| Investment | Liberty was expected to spend about $500 million; total costs were believed to have reached as much as $700 million[5](https://slite.dma.mil/issues/nov2023/20231119.pdf) • [7](https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2023/nov/17/las-vegas-gp-opening-practice-cancelled-after-cars-damaged-by-drain-covers) |
## Background and circuit
Formula 1 and the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority announced in 2022 that the [Las Vegas Grand Prix](https://www.edgepedia.org/las-vegas-grand-prix) would join the championship from 2023, with the race run at night on the Strip.[8](https://press.lvcva.com/news-releases/formula-1-will-race-in-las-vegas-from-2023/s/766a27f9-57f8-48a2-a369-74ffeaf98e0f) Las Vegas had staged Formula 1 races twice before, under the [Caesars Palace Grand Prix](https://www.edgepedia.org/caesars-palace-grand-prix) name in 1981 and 1982, both as season finales in a hotel parking lot; Alan Jones won in 1981 and Michele Alboreto took his maiden victory in 1982.[1](https://www.formula1.com/en/racing/2023/las-vegas)
**Circuit design.** Twenty-three different circuit configurations were mapped across the city before the final 3.8-mile, 17-turn route was chosen in early 2022.[9](https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article/were-creating-a-new-legacy-the-mind-boggling-logistics-behind-the-las-vegas.GhNlNJbDR3wB8mwkgxZo8) The circuit, designed by [Hermann Tilke](https://www.edgepedia.org/hermann-tilke), runs anti-clockwise past [Caesars Palace](https://www.edgepedia.org/caesars-palace), the Bellagio, and the Venetian, with a forecast top speed of 212 mph (342 km/h) and an estimated average speed of 147 mph (237 km/h).[3](https://www.fia.com/sites/default/files/las_vegas_grand_prix_2023_media_kit_fia_accredited_1.pdf) • [1](https://www.formula1.com/en/racing/2023/las-vegas) The race distance was 50 laps, with the grand prix scheduled to start at 22:00 local time on Saturday, November 18.[3](https://www.fia.com/sites/default/files/las_vegas_grand_prix_2023_media_kit_fia_accredited_1.pdf) • [9](https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article/were-creating-a-new-legacy-the-mind-boggling-logistics-behind-the-las-vegas.GhNlNJbDR3wB8mwkgxZo8)
**Permanent infrastructure.** Formula 1 bought land and built its own permanent pit and paddock building, a 300,000-square-foot facility on a 39-acre site at Harmon Avenue and Koval Lane, the largest pit building on the calendar at the length of three [American football](https://www.edgepedia.org/american-football) fields.[7](https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2023/nov/17/las-vegas-gp-opening-practice-cancelled-after-cars-damaged-by-drain-covers) • [3](https://www.fia.com/sites/default/files/las_vegas_grand_prix_2023_media_kit_fia_accredited_1.pdf) Ground was broken on November 5, 2022, and construction involved more than 400 workers, who leveled a 25-foot slope and inserted a pedestrian tunnel from the paddock to the opposite grandstand.[3](https://www.fia.com/sites/default/files/las_vegas_grand_prix_2023_media_kit_fia_accredited_1.pdf) • [9](https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article/were-creating-a-new-legacy-the-mind-boggling-logistics-behind-the-las-vegas.GhNlNJbDR3wB8mwkgxZo8) Ticketed capacity was 100,000 per day.[3](https://www.fia.com/sites/default/files/las_vegas_grand_prix_2023_media_kit_fia_accredited_1.pdf)
## Opening night: the drain cover failure
The first practice session on Thursday, November 16 ended after roughly eight minutes. Carlos Sainz's Ferrari struck a concrete frame around a manhole cover on the flat-out Strip section, ripping it up and damaging the chassis, floor, and power unit; [Esteban Ocon](https://www.edgepedia.org/esteban-ocon)'s Alpine was also damaged.[10](https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/vasseur-f1-vegas-manhole-issues-that-wrecked-sainzs-ferrari-unacceptable/10547501/) • [11](https://cdn.connectsites.net/user_files/f4/downloads/000/070/212/Friday%202023%20Las%20Vegas%20GP%20newsletter%20final%20pdf.pdf?1700272945=) The session was red-flagged and then not resumed, with race control reporting that the concrete frame around a manhole cover had failed and that all other manhole covers on the circuit would need to be checked.[4](https://www.fia.com/news/f1-first-practice-session-las-vegas-stopped-circuit-repairs-following-sainz-incident) Formula 1 and Las Vegas Grand Prix Inc. described it in a joint statement as a single water valve cover that failed during the session.[12](https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2023/11/17/f1-las-vegas-grand-prix-drain/) All drain and manhole covers along the roughly six-kilometer circuit were inspected before the second practice session, which ran after midnight.[13](https://www.racefans.net/2023/11/17/first-vegas-practice-abandoned-after-10-minutes-as-loose-drain-damages-cars/)
Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur called the damage to Sainz's car unacceptable, and Ferrari incurred a penalty for the weekend's race because of the resulting power unit changes.[10](https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/vasseur-f1-vegas-manhole-issues-that-wrecked-sainzs-ferrari-unacceptable/10547501/) • [14](https://thepeninsulaqatar.com/pdf/20231118_1700256439-831.pdf) Mercedes team principal [Toto Wolff](https://www.edgepedia.org/toto-wolff) rejected the description of the incident as a "black eye" for the series.[15](https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/wolff-vegas-gp-manhole-incident-not-a-black-eye-for-f1/10547518/)
## Race
Leclerc was fastest in practice, and the grand prix itself ran on Saturday night without a repeat of the track-failure problems.[14](https://thepeninsulaqatar.com/pdf/20231118_1700256439-831.pdf) Verstappen won from Leclerc and Pérez after overcoming a penalty and car damage during the weekend.[2](https://www.formula1.com/en/results/2023/races/1225/las-vegas/race-result) • [16](https://api.fia.com/news/f1-verstappen-overcomes-penalty-and-damage-win-las-vegas-grand-prix-ahead-leclerc-perez) Esteban Ocon finished fourth for Alpine and [Lance Stroll](https://www.edgepedia.org/lance-stroll) fifth for [Aston Martin](https://www.edgepedia.org/aston-martin).[2](https://www.formula1.com/en/results/2023/races/1225/las-vegas/race-result) Oscar Piastri scored an additional point for setting the fastest lap, and George Russell received a five-second time penalty for causing a collision, dropping him to eighth behind [Lewis Hamilton](https://www.edgepedia.org/lewis-hamilton).[2](https://www.formula1.com/en/results/2023/races/1225/las-vegas/race-result) The win added to a dominant championship season for Verstappen, who had already clinched the 2023 title.[17](https://apnews.com/article/288a85391c2dc7cb94c7039a86313e7c)
## Economics and local impact
The event was expected to create a $1.28 billion economic impact to the Las Vegas area in its first year, according to the official media kit.[3](https://www.fia.com/sites/default/files/las_vegas_grand_prix_2023_media_kit_fia_accredited_1.pdf) Clark County's subsequent debriefing report put the total economic impact of race spending at $884 million, with the ripple effect of that spending, including indirect and induced spending, translating into $587 million of local economic impact.[6](https://clark.legistar.com/View.ashx?GUID=DBA17D81-8594-458A-8115-F3F4623E2CB4&ID=12771017&M=F) Reporting on the debrief noted that the race generated more tax revenue than any other event in the history of Las Vegas.[18](https://www.roadandtrack.com/news/a60358860/las-vegas-f1-figures/)
**Costs to the city.** Construction to accommodate the event disrupted the lives of locals for nearly a year before the race.[19](https://www.axios.com/2023/11/20/las-vegas-formula-one-mlb-sports-betting) In September 2023, a 37-year-old worker, Tizoc Antonio of Las Vegas, died from an injury received at the temporary grandstand construction site in front of the Bellagio resort fountains; the Clark County coroner's office ruled the death accidental and Nevada OSHA investigated.[20](https://apnews.com/article/3baf39507158b5e20a72434e3b42d387) Tickets for the spectator space in front of the Bellagio were priced at more than $11,000 per person.[20](https://apnews.com/article/3baf39507158b5e20a72434e3b42d387) The race was expected to be the most expensive event for spectators on the 2023 F1 schedule.[21](https://apnews.com/article/e780a2608cd6a20150a832c9f9d694c8)
## Aftermath
The inaugural race was followed by a second running in 2024, for which secondary-ticket prices cooled considerably compared with 2023, when the cheapest ticket on one resale site cost $1,387 the day before the race.[17](https://apnews.com/article/288a85391c2dc7cb94c7039a86313e7c) Formula 1 subsequently extended its Las Vegas commitment through 2037.[1](https://www.formula1.com/en/racing/2023/las-vegas)
## References
1. [Las Vegas Grand Prix 2023 – F1 Race, Formula1.com](https://www.formula1.com/en/racing/2023/las-vegas)
2. [Formula 1 Heineken Silver Las Vegas Grand Prix 2023 – Race Result, Formula1.com](https://www.formula1.com/en/results/2023/races/1225/las-vegas/race-result)
3. [Formula 1 Heineken Silver Las Vegas Grand Prix 2023 Official Media Kit, FIA](https://www.fia.com/sites/default/files/las_vegas_grand_prix_2023_media_kit_fia_accredited_1.pdf)
4. [F1 – First practice session in Las Vegas stopped for circuit repairs following Sainz incident, FIA](https://www.fia.com/news/f1-first-practice-session-las-vegas-stopped-circuit-repairs-following-sainz-incident)
5. [Stripes Lite, Sunday, November 19, 2023](https://slite.dma.mil/issues/nov2023/20231119.pdf)
6. [2023 Las Vegas Grand Prix Debriefing Report, Clark County](https://clark.legistar.com/View.ashx?GUID=DBA17D81-8594-458A-8115-F3F4623E2CB4&ID=12771017&M=F)
7. [Las Vegas GP practice descends into farce after drain covers damage cars, The Guardian](https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2023/nov/17/las-vegas-gp-opening-practice-cancelled-after-cars-damaged-by-drain-covers)
8. [Formula 1 will Race in Las Vegas from 2023, LVCVA Press](https://press.lvcva.com/news-releases/formula-1-will-race-in-las-vegas-from-2023/s/766a27f9-57f8-48a2-a369-74ffeaf98e0f)
9. [We're creating a new legacy – The mind-boggling logistics behind the creation of the Las Vegas Grand Prix, Formula1.com](https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article/were-creating-a-new-legacy-the-mind-boggling-logistics-behind-the-las-vegas.GhNlNJbDR3wB8mwkgxZo8)
10. [Vasseur: Vegas manhole issues that wrecked Sainz's Ferrari F1 car "unacceptable", Motorsport.com](https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/vasseur-f1-vegas-manhole-issues-that-wrecked-sainzs-ferrari-unacceptable/10547501/)
11. [The Officials Newsletter, Friday 2023 Las Vegas GP](https://cdn.connectsites.net/user_files/f4/downloads/000/070/212/Friday%202023%20Las%20Vegas%20GP%20newsletter%20final%20pdf.pdf?1700272945=)
12. [Las Vegas Grand Prix's first practice is canceled, The Washington Post](https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2023/11/17/f1-las-vegas-grand-prix-drain/)
13. [First Vegas practice abandoned after 10 minutes as loose drain damages cars, RaceFans](https://www.racefans.net/2023/11/17/first-vegas-practice-abandoned-after-10-minutes-as-loose-drain-damages-cars/)
14. [Peninsula Qatar, Saturday 18 November 2023](https://thepeninsulaqatar.com/pdf/20231118_1700256439-831.pdf)
15. [Wolff: Vegas GP manhole incident "not a black eye" for F1, Motorsport.com](https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/wolff-vegas-gp-manhole-incident-not-a-black-eye-for-f1/10547518/)
16. [F1 – Verstappen overcomes penalty and damage to win Las Vegas Grand Prix ahead of Leclerc, Pérez, FIA](https://api.fia.com/news/f1-verstappen-overcomes-penalty-and-damage-win-las-vegas-grand-prix-ahead-leclerc-perez)
17. [Secondary-ticket prices cool for the 2nd running of the Las Vegas Grand Prix, AP News](https://apnews.com/article/288a85391c2dc7cb94c7039a86313e7c)
18. [Las Vegas F1 Generated $884 Million in Spending and Other Eye-Popping Figures, Road & Track](https://www.roadandtrack.com/news/a60358860/las-vegas-f1-figures/)
19. [Las Vegas sets its sights on sports domination, Axios](https://www.axios.com/2023/11/20/las-vegas-formula-one-mlb-sports-betting)
20. [Worker killed at temporary Vegas Strip auto race grandstand construction site identified, AP News](https://apnews.com/article/3baf39507158b5e20a72434e3b42d387)
21. [The booming business of F1 to be explored in CNBC documentary airing ahead of Las Vegas Grand Prix, AP News](https://apnews.com/article/e780a2608cd6a20150a832c9f9d694c8)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Sports, games, and recreation › Individual sports and outdoor recreation › Cycling and motor sport › Formula One and Grand Prix motor racing › Formula One Grands Prix by nation and event › United States Grands Prix*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Edited: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Last review: Oct 21, 2026*
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License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license