Formula 1: Las Vegas Grand Prix experience, from a fan’s eyes

Formula 1: Las Vegas Grand Prix experience, from a fan's eyes

As a seasoned F1 enthusiast, I can confidently say that my Las Vegas Grand Prix adventure was nothing short of extraordinary! This wasn’t part of my original plans, but fate had other ideas and dropped those tickets into my lap just two weeks before the event. The unexpected turn of events led to an unforgettable experience.

In 2024, my fourth and last Formula 1 race of the season found me among the spectators at the Las Vegas Grand Prix in Nevada. This wasn’t initially part of my plans until two weeks prior when ticket prices plummeted dramatically. Unfortunately, I couldn’t make it for the entire three-day weekend and could only secure tickets for the actual race day.

Upon reaching Las Vegas at midday, traffic proved challenging since most of the strip was under closure due to the race event. Fortunately, I opted to stay in a nearby residential area for a quieter atmosphere instead.

The entrance to the Grand Prix event unlocked at 4:30 in the afternoon, with the race set to begin at 10:00 pm. My assigned seating area was located within the T-Mobile zone, encompassing the Sphere.

In SG8, I found a seat that provided an outstanding vantage point for viewing turn five leading into turn six. Despite having attended three other Grand Prix events, the grandstand experience in this instance surpassed anything I had previously encountered. Not only were food and non-alcoholic beverages offered free of charge, but the quality didn’t seem to suffer as a result.

Countdown to the Grand Prix

In approximately four hours left, the final race of the weekend for the Ferrari Challenge series took place. This street circuit played host to close to 40 cars, and it was my inaugural viewing experience. Despite not being well-versed in the series, one fascinating aspect was that every Ferrari on the track had a real-world dealer as its sponsor, hailing from various parts of the globe.

One hour before the drivers’ parade commenced, I strolled towards the massive stage directly facing the Sphere, where DJs were entertaining the crowd. By the time the drivers’ parade reached the Sphere, fans flocked towards the fence, barely a stone’s throw from the track. As the truck transporting the drivers passed by, they appeared astonishingly near. I had never been this close to Lewis Hamilton before, and it was an absolutely breathtaking experience.

With 90 more minutes left until the lights would dim, the spotlight shifted towards the grand stage. Anticipation ran high as Ludacris was scheduled for a unique performance, and fans were on the edge of their seats. As soon as he appeared on stage, a wave of cheers erupted. For approximately 45 minutes, he put on a mini-concert, and being young, I recognized only a handful of songs compared to many others in attendance.

As the race neared its end, I returned to my seat, brimming with anticipation for the start of the warm-up lap. The temperature was roughly 60 degrees, but the wind added a chill to it. With mere minutes remaining before the race started, the cameras on the big screen zeroed in on Max Verstappen, who stood poised to clinch his fourth successive world championship title.

As the warm-up lap commenced, spectators were vocalizing their excitement. Fortunately for me, I was among Mercedes supporters, sparing me the noise of Red Bull or McLaren supporters. Given the W15’s impressive speed throughout the weekend, I eagerly anticipated similar performance on race day. Hamilton faced a challenging climb from position ten, but with numerous overtaking chances at this track, I was confident he would manage it.

As soon as the lights blinked off, people quickly grabbed their phones while eagerly anticipating the passage of all 20 cars through turn five. Fortunately, George Russell managed to keep his lead during the initial turns. This British racer was in top form, not only holding onto but also expanding his advantage throughout the entire race.

It was awesome to see Hamilton make his way through the grid, displaying some impressive pace. There was a period of the Grand Prix when he kept setting the fastest lap, even leaving the commentators shocked.

I was rooting for Verstappen to beat Lando Norris in the race, since I didn’t want the British driver to keep his title hopes alive past this weekend. Additionally, it was amusing to see Carlos Sainz Jr. having an issue with a late pit stop due to the Ferrari crew not being ready yet, which reminded me of the team’s consistent issues – “the same old Ferrari”.

Russell’s dominance had me forget about him for a while, as all my attention was on Hamilton charging through the field. It was great to see him confident after some comments he made before this season-ending tripleheader started.

At P2, he entered, causing an uproar among the crowd, leaving me spellbound. It was my inaugural experience at the Las Vegas Grand Prix, and it turned out to be nothing short of spectacular. The event concluded with quite a flair, as I bore witness to a Mercedes 1-2 finish – an unprecedented occasion for me. Moreover, it was a unique spectacle to see Lewis Hamilton and George Russell standing together on the Silver Arrows’ podium, a sight I may never witness again.

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2024-11-29 14:32

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