Illuminated by the neon skyline of Las Vegas, the Las Vegas Strip Circuit is one of the most ambitious street circuits ever created. Officially introduced to the Formula One World Championship in 2023, the circuit combines the glamour of the Las Vegas Strip with exceptionally high speeds, long straights and dramatic night racing.
Unlike traditional city circuits, the layout was designed from the outset to accommodate Formula One while showcasing some of the world’s most recognisable landmarks. Racing past luxury resorts, casinos and entertainment venues, competitors experience one of the most visually spectacular environments in modern motorsport.
The result is a circuit where engineering precision and global entertainment meet on one of the world’s most famous streets.
In Brief
- The Las Vegas Strip Circuit debuted on the Formula One calendar in 2023.
- Racing takes place late at night to maximise the visual impact of the illuminated Strip and accommodate European television audiences.
- The circuit includes a purpose-built Formula One paddock complex owned by Formula One Management.
- Cars exceed 340 km/h along the Las Vegas Strip.
- Cool desert temperatures create unique tyre warm-up challenges compared with most Formula One races.
- It is one of only a handful of Formula One races contested entirely under floodlights.
History
Las Vegas first appeared on the Formula One calendar in the early 1980s with the Caesars Palace Grand Prix, held on a temporary circuit surrounding the Caesars Palace hotel. Although historically significant, that venue never captured the imagination of drivers or spectators.
Four decades later, Formula One returned with an entirely different vision.
Construction of the Las Vegas Strip Circuit formed part of Formula One’s long-term expansion in North America. Rather than relying on an existing venue, Formula One became directly involved in the design, promotion and operation of the event, making Las Vegas one of the championship’s flagship destinations.
The inaugural Las Vegas Grand Prix took place in 2023, instantly becoming one of the sport’s most watched and photographed events.
Circuit Design
The circuit measures 6.201 kilometres, making it one of the longest layouts on the Formula One calendar.
Its defining feature is the approximately two-kilometre run along the world-famous Las Vegas Strip, where Formula One cars reach some of the highest speeds recorded on any street circuit. This immense straight is complemented by several heavy braking zones and medium-speed corner sequences that require careful management of tyre temperatures and brake performance.
Unlike Monaco or Singapore, Las Vegas places comparatively little emphasis on continuous cornering. Instead, the lap alternates between maximum acceleration and heavy braking, rewarding efficient aerodynamics and excellent traction.
The race takes place entirely under floodlights during the cool Nevada night, creating unique operating conditions rarely encountered elsewhere on the calendar.
LENGTH
6.201
kilometres
WIDTH
12–15
metres
DIRECTION
CCW
counter-clockwise
TURNS
17
11 left – 6 right
SURFACE
Asphalt
LONGEST STRAIGHT
1,013
metres
ELEVATION CHANGE
16.7
metres
OPENED
2023
3 years ago
Las Vegas Strip Circuit is defined by long periods of full-throttle acceleration interrupted by heavy braking zones and predominantly slow corners, creating a street circuit where straight-line efficiency and braking stability are particularly important. Unlike Jeddah’s flowing interpretation of an urban course, Las Vegas derives much of its character from extreme changes between very high speed and low-speed cornering.
The opening section around the permanent pit and paddock complex introduces a technical sequence before competitors accelerate towards the city’s street network. Through the middle of the lap, slower corners and changes of direction repeatedly determine how effectively speed can be carried onto the following straights. The defining section is the long run along Las Vegas Boulevard — the Strip itself — where cars reach exceptionally high speeds before braking heavily towards the northern end of the circuit.
Although the Strip provides the circuit with its unmistakable visual identity, the driving challenge comes from maximising acceleration while remaining precise in the braking zones that separate its long straights. Drivers who achieve strong traction from the slower corners, minimise aerodynamic drag and retain confidence under braking are generally rewarded most strongly.
| Corner |
|---|
| T1 060° · Left · 30 m |
| T2 086° · Left · 147 m |
| T3 063° · Right · 78 m |
| T4 028° · Right · 43 m |
| T5 091° · Right · 37 m |
| T6 091° · Left · 290 m |
| T7 091° · Left · 31 m |
| T8 · MSG Sphere 115° · Right · 76 m |
| T9 115° · Left · 53 m |
| T10 066° · Right · 227 m |
| T11 057° · Left · 185 m |
| T12 073° · Left · 30 m |
| T13 002° · Left · 42 m |
| T14 089° · Left · 16 m |
| T15 042° · Right · 12 m |
| T16 043° · Left · 41 m |
| T17 049° · Left · 121 m |
Las Vegas Strip Circuit represents Formula One’s most ambitious modern attempt to integrate a Grand Prix directly into the identity of a major entertainment destination. Introduced in 2023, the circuit returned Formula One to Las Vegas after the championship’s earlier races at Caesars Palace in 1981 and 1982, but with an entirely different approach centred on the Strip itself.
Its creation also reflected the rapid growth of Formula One in the United States, joining Austin and Miami to give the country three Grands Prix. Rather than relying primarily on an established local motorsport tradition, Las Vegas was conceived as a combination of international sporting competition, entertainment and destination event, illustrating the increasingly important relationship between Formula One and major global cities.
The circuit is particularly significant because Formula One itself became directly involved in the promotion and infrastructure of the event, including the development of a permanent paddock complex close to the Strip. This represents a different model from the championship’s traditional relationship with independent race promoters and demonstrates the strategic importance attached to the Las Vegas event.
Las Vegas therefore occupies a distinctive position within contemporary Formula One. Its significance does not yet derive from decades of racing history, but from its role in the championship’s modern American expansion and changing approach to destination-based Grands Prix. By placing Formula One cars directly on Las Vegas Boulevard, the circuit turns one of the world’s most recognisable urban landscapes into part of the racing venue itself.
Visitor Experience
Few motorsport events offer an atmosphere comparable to Las Vegas.
Spectators experience Formula One in the heart of one of the world’s entertainment capitals, with grandstands overlooking iconic hotels, casinos and the illuminated Strip. The race weekend extends far beyond the circuit itself, blending motorsport with concerts, nightlife, fine dining, luxury shopping and international entertainment.
Visitors can also explore the city’s broader attractions, including the Bellagio fountains, the Sphere, the Fremont Street Experience and numerous world-famous resorts.
Climate
| Month | High °C | Low °C | Rainfall mm | Rainy days | Daylight h |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 14° | 4° | 21 | 4 | 10.0 |
| February | 16° | 5° | 28 | 4 | 10.9 |
| March | 21° | 8° | 16 | 3 | 12.0 |
| April | 25° | 12° | 7 | 2 | 13.1 |
| May | 30° | 16° | 4 | 1 | 14.1 |
| June | 36° | 21° | 2 | 0 | 14.6 |
| July | 39° | 26° | 6 | 2 | 14.3 |
| August | 38° | 25° | 9 | 2 | 13.5 |
| September | 34° | 21° | 6 | 1 | 12.4 |
| October | 26° | 14° | 8 | 1 | 11.2 |
| November | 19° | 8° | 10 | 1 | 10.3 |
| December | 13° | 3° | 20 | 3 | 9.8 |
Monthly averages for Las Vegas Strip Circuit, 1991–2020.
Generated using Copernicus Climate Change Service information 2026 (CC BY 4.0).
Neither the European Commission nor ECMWF is responsible for any use that may be made of the Copernicus information or data it contains.
Location
The Las Vegas Strip Circuit is located in the heart of Las Vegas, weaving through the city’s central resort district before returning to the purpose-built Formula One paddock complex.
It lies only a short distance from Harry Reid International Airport, making it one of the most accessible Formula One venues in the world.
Address
260 East Harmon Avenue
89119 Las Vegas
Clark County, Nevada
USA
Website