1.7 billion reasons says Liberty media
Yeah just about every driver on the grid will have their own personal jet, not to mention the Team bosses and their bosses !!
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think the attitude of the local F1 organization will set back fan interest in this sport ten-fold here
The organisation now in charge of F1 (Liberty media) aren't too popular with some of the drivers either. A lot of the top drivers dislike the new 'Sprint race' format introduced at some tracks to basically boost revenue over the course of the weekend. Since 2016 they have been trying to rebrand the image to appeal to younger generations, get more into on line Streaming and discussing more races per year. I think 3 more USA venues are under discussion for the future to keep pushing the growth in America. Not considering the Locals is right on the money!(Excuse the pun!) It seems that rather than considering the Locals they just remind them that F1 is bringing 1.7 billion dollars of revenue to Las Vegas.
Back to the racing, I think it will be epic!!
Dave
Jets are in-bound -- looking very cool
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Originally Posted by
Mark Sedenquist
We also drove to the private jet staging area at the Henderson Airport -- clearly, that is the place for the intended F1 traffic. They have reserved parking spaces for about 50 jets. There are 5 or 6 in there now.
So, Megan and I drove back to the Quail Aviation Center -- which is part of the Henderson Airport where they have added a HUGE parking area for jets. Photos follow:
https://www.roadtripamerica.com/blog...JetPort_01.jpg
Entrance near the staging area for the Private Jets
https://www.roadtripamerica.com/blog...JetPort_02.jpg
A couple of jets that arrived while we were sitting on the adjacent road.
https://www.roadtripamerica.com/blog...JetPort_03.jpg
There are maybe 200 people staged here to assist with deplaning arriving guests.
https://www.roadtripamerica.com/blog...JetPort_05.jpg
A few of the jets lined up on the front row
https://www.roadtripamerica.com/blog...JetPort_06.jpg
Another view looking west -- more jets
Mark
Say what you really think Max!
Max Verstappens thoughts as reported.
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Formula One’s hopes to open the Las Vegas Grand Prix weekend with a bang were dealt a blow when its reigning world champion, Max Verstappen, dismissed the meeting as “99% show and 1% sporting event”. The Dutchman was scathing about what F1 hopes will be its biggest race of the year and a showcase for the sport.
This weekend’s meeting is the first to be promoted and organised by F1’s owners, Liberty Media, and what certainly was a show had begun in the early evening of Wednesday with an extravagant opening ceremony held on the start-finish straight. A series of acts including Kylie Minogue and John Legend were accompanied by lasers and fireworks before the festivities climaxed with the drivers elevated on lifts on to stages to wave to the crowd of approximately 30,000 in the new pit and paddock grandstand complex F1 has purpose built in the city.
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Verstappen had not enjoyed the experience. “For me, you can skip this,” he said. “It’s not about the singers. We are just standing up there, looking like a clown.” So unenamoured was he that he had also declined to attend a party at the Wynn casino held by the F1 CEO, Stefano Domenicali, because as he put it bluntly he had “zero interest”.
A tad disrespectful to the sport that will pay him a reported $55 million in 2023 I think.
Dave
concrete frame around a manhole cover
I just turned on the channel, in time to find that the race stewards have red flagged the course. They raced for 30 minutes -- and the replays I saw sure looked cool.
Here is the situation that caused the red flag:
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FIA confirm concrete frame on manhole cover is the issue
As we mentioned earlier, the FIA have now confirmed is the framing around the manhole cover.
They have said: "Following inspection, it was the concrete frame around a manhole cover that has failed. We now need to check all of the other manhole covers which will take some time.
"We will be discussing with the local circuit engineering team about the length of time it will take to resolve and will update with any resultant changes to the schedule."
A big bummer.
Mark
Could of been much worse!
Yeah a few red faces for sure! That could of got real messy! Well into the second Free practice session as the drivers learn the circuit and get the feel of the car in different race trims. I would imagine getting the tyres up to the optimum temperature in the cold desert night air is tricky. It's quite a sight as they hurtle pass the pits at over 200mph, skid plates sparking off the tarmac!
No room for common sense in regulations!
The real crazy thing is that Carlos Sainz (the driver who hit the faulty drain cover) has been given a 10 grid place penalty because they have had to repair parts that were affected by said drain cover (Regulations make swapping parts on race weekend an offence)
Dave
penalizing the Ferrari team
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Originally Posted by
Southwest Dave
I feel for those that could of travelled and only afford the practice sessions, even a refund isn't going to compensate them anywhere close.
The Wall Street Journal is reporting that the grandstands were emptied because there was insufficient staff to work the venues at that hour.
And I agree that penalizing the Ferrari team by imposing a ten space grid penalty to replace the battery (that was damaged by the faulty manhole cover) is bonkers.
Mark
We will be on the Strip in four hours
Megan and I need to attend the Froog Camp event this afternoon at Resorts World. I will report in again as to how crazy things are on the Strip.
This whole F1 event is starting to seem a bit embarrassing for our city. As locals, we take a dim view of anything or anyone who disparages our fair city.
Mark
Looking forward to the race tonight!
The Froog Camp event was a little odd -- but getting there was no issue. Locals are not using the streets. When we left the Resorts World property at about 6 pm roads were a tad jammed - since the Strip was closed. But no real issues.
Qualifying looked pretty slick -- really pretty race course.
Looking forward to the race tonight!
Mark
I would credit the Netflix series
Craig,
I would credit the Netflix series "Drive to Survive" as the #1 driver to rekindle my interest in F1. I used to attend the Long Beach Grand Prix--another road circuit and enjoyed it. What the Netflix series did for me was to humanize the drivers and thus make the entire event much more interesting to this fan.
I am looking forward to the race tonight. I have another event I need to attend, early in the evening, but I am planning to find a TV around the start of the race.
AZBuck passed along this article from the UK Daily Mail--my take? People love to hate Las Vegas and jump on whenever they get a chance.
And, despite the issues, I think the organizers made a beautiful race course.
Mark
Another "teething" problem
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Originally Posted by
Southwest Dave
And good on those making the roadway safe in such a short amount of time in the middle of the night! Can you send them to the UK to sort out our ever growing Potholes!)
Yeah, impressive road repair!
I drove past the Henderson Jetport and I think there are less jets parked this morning than there were yesterday. They had prepared for a massive influx of jets --with the staff to match and (almost) no one came.
Another "teething" problem--no doubt.
I think the Strip properties will probably have a net operating loss from this F1 event -- it feels like the normal influx of tourists didn't happen. And we know of a restaurant that put on extra staff -- right on the strip adjacent to the racetrack and almost no diners stopped by. They closed early last night.
Mark
Race enthusiasts not high rollers.
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I think the Strip properties will probably have a net operating loss from this F1 event -- it feels like the normal influx of tourists didn't happen.
If I wanted to visit Las Vegas and was not an F1 fan then this weekend is the one I would avoid at all costs due to the inflated prices and inconvenience of the event. So despite all the money F1 claim to have brought to the city, it would be interesting to see how much over 'the normal' this would amount to. Away from the glamour a lot of F1 fans are pure enthusiasts that will pay a lot to get to an event, (more than they can afford) but it doesn't mean they have a lot to spend in the casinos and diners etc which is another negative for local business. Any other town and F1 would make a huge difference, but Vegas isn't any old town is it!
Put that all aside and we have a great event to look forward to and it's almost time to let the racing do the talking.
Dave
We have a good friend who was in the grandstands for all events
It was a fun race to watch.
I had a hard time staying awake around lap 40 or so though. I did wake up in time to see the last three laps.
It would have been fun to see Sergio come in first -- but great action at the front for final finish.
Nothing like an actual race to see the skill sets!
Ugly crash that put Lando Norris into the wall. Glad to see that he is OK.
The number that F1 is reporting is 315,000 visitors to Las Vegas. I find that nearly impossible to believe. I know what this town feels like when there are 300K extra people here. I would believe a number closer to 100K.
We have a good friend who was in the grandstands for all events -- he had a blast.
Mark
drove a part of the Strip this afternoon
Megan and I drove a part of the Strip this afternoon -- tough sledding since the workers are already working at dismantling the course and traffic was heavy!
One thing that was super obvious -- a heck of lot of private jets were on-hand yesterday. When we drove past the Executive Air Terminal at Harry Reid International airport --there were more than 20 qued-up to taxi to the runways.
Mark
They are hoping for "normalcy" by Christmas
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I might have reached 35 mph on the Harmon section of the course.
Best guess from the county engineer is that will have most of the roads open and back to "normal" by Christmas. Heavy forecast for closures on Sands Blvd and Harmon--they have to remove the k-rails and etc.
I don't know if they plan to remove the lights superstructure or how that will work.
Mark
incredibly bright for F1 in Nevada.
If ever there was a city who is capable of figuring out the inside track--it is Las Vegas. Lots of teething issues arose this first time. But we're going to figure it out and next year will be better and bigger than ever.
The biggest impediment to this GP being successful to Las Vegas residents was the lack of "free or inexpensive options." If you think about Las Vegas, there have always been really expensive options for spending money on lodging, food, entertainment, etc., but there have also been free or in expensive ways to experience the grandeur of Las Vegas. The fountain show at Bellagio, the wonder and beauty of the lobby areas at Caesars Palace, Paris, Cosmopolitan, etc., and Bellagio, and the Venice canals above the casino floor at the Venetian.
We and by that I mean the collective business ensemble that enables Las Vegas to exist will lean on F1 to provide some of that for locals and visitors alike.
This is a city where most of us view Las Vegas as work-in-progress and one that we are all involved in creating. When F1 embraces that concept, I think the future is incredibly bright for F1 in Nevada.
Mark
Was going along the Strip the best option?
I wonder if it would of been better if they had developed the track close to the Strip but not as part of it ? They could of still used the 'Glitz and Glamour' of it all to create a spectacular event, but everyone (race fan or not) could of still visited and enjoyed nights out along the Strip with the free entertainments as well as the business side of it. As it is, it will bring in a lot of race fans over race weekend, but alienate other would be visitors.
Thanks Craig for the nice drive through video.
One week on the season finale.
As they continue to clear up in Vegas after the Grand Prix the season ended this weekend in Abu Dahbi with another victory for Max Verstappen. With drivers and constructors title already concluded before LV all that was left to settle is which team would grab second spot. It was a close call between Mercedes and Ferrari but despite an interesting tactic deployed by Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) it was Mercedes who grabbed second spot by just 3 points. (Good result as it was classed as a pretty awful season for them)
Just over 90 days before it starts over for the 2024 season with testing to start in mid February and car reveals likely to start late January.
Dave
Perhaps a bit of narrative
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Originally Posted by
Southwest Dave
..but despite an interesting tactic deployed by Charles Leclerc..
I tried to look this up -- but not sure I saw what you referenced mentioned in the post-race coverage. Perhaps a bit of narrative is needed here?
And here is a first look at some of the trees that will be back in front of the Bellagio.
Mark
drove the Las Vegas Strip today.
Megan and I drove the Las Vegas Strip today.
With rare exception--all of the F1 racing gear has been removed from the Strip. The lanes are still a mess at Harmon and the Strip --- hard to tell what's going on there.
But all of the race course lighting, k-rails and etc. is long gone.
Mark
F1 will be back in town, very, very soon
