Carlos Sainz Jnr says Formula 1’s second Las Vegas Grand Prix was more successful because the series didn’t try too hard to sell itself.
The Ferrari driver said the second edition of the event last weekend was “a step forwards compared to last year.”
Formula One Management took the unique step of promoting its own event in the city, buying a plot of land in order to construct the pit and paddock. However its first event last year drew some criticism for how heavily promoted it was and the demands it placed upon the drivers and teams to add to the spectacle.
Sainz said this had been dialled back in F1’s second year and the event was better for it. “I feel like last year F1, if anything, was trying a bit too hard to put on too much of a show,” he said. “It got a bit too much away from Formula 1 and too much into the Vegas style.
“I feel like this year we’ve just been more normal doing our own thing and it’s been a success. It just shows the Formula 1 product works and you don’t need to try too hard.”
However the event’s unusually late schedule remains a focus of criticism for many. The race started at 10pm local time, as it did last year.
“I’d bring the race a couple hours earlier if I could,” said Sainz. “I think it would help everyone in the paddock, everyone that does the job in this sport, I think, would put everyone in a healthier, better mood through the weekend.”
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Adding to the demand upon teams, the race is held back-to-back with the Qatar Grand Prix. The drivers and team staff therefore have to cope with an 11-hour time zone change.
“So a couple of hours earlier race timings and not a back-to-back with Qatar, that’s what I would ask everyone as the next step,” said Sainz. “For the rest, it’s a great circuit to put on a good race, great for overtaking, a challenging track. I wouldn’t change anything, just those two details and I think everything will be better.”
Race winner George Russell agreed the race is “not great timing at all for the people who are here in the moment.”
“But we’re 20 drivers, let’s say 4,000 people who do all the F1 races collectively, and there’s tens of millions of people who watch at home.
“I’d probably say having it back-to-back with Qatar is the biggest challenge. If we have a week off afterwards, I’d say that’s probably the only thing realistically that would help.”
Lewis Hamilton agreed the schedule is “massively challenging for everyone” but praised the event as a success. “The actual race is absolutely fantastic. It’s such a great event.
“They’ve really, really done a mega job this year so I can’t wait to come back.”
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2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix
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