Formula One's Las Vegas Grand Prix: High Stakes, High Hopes and High Concerns

The inaugural night race, with a half-billion-dollar investment, aims to reposition Las Vegas as a global sports destination and expand F1's footprint in the U.S., amidst concerns over local impact and weather conditions.

Formula One's Las Vegas Grand Prix is set to be one of the biggest races in the sport's history, with an investment of over half a billion USD and an expected economic impact of $1.7 billion.
The race is scheduled to begin at 1 a.m. ET this Sunday (10 p.m. local time Saturday night in Las Vegas) on ESPN, ESPN+ and ESPN Deportes, making it a late-night spectacle.
Despite the anticipation, there are concerns about the impact of the race on local traffic and businesses, as well as the high ticket prices and potential cold weather conditions.
The Las Vegas Grand Prix is part of the city's strategy to attract more international visitors and to reposition itself as a global sports destination.
The event is also seen as a significant step in Formula One's expansion in the U.S., following the success of the U.S. Grand Prix in Austin and the popularity of the Netflix series 'Drive to Survive'.