Hotel room and ticket prices for the November 2023 race skyrocketed following last year's announcement of F1's return to Las Vegas. After last year's boom and crazy prices, this year it was possible to book hotel accommodation before the event itself at a low price (even under $20). Tickets for practice, qualifying and the races themselves have also dropped by 60%. Reporters compared the original prices: for example, tickets for the practice sessions were $250 and only $100 before the event, while tickets for the Saturday race before the event were $800 and up to $1,600 a month earlier. These are huge differences. Sadly, the event did not bring the huge profits that had been predicted for the city and its businesses, and reportedly for the organizers of this prestigious event themselves.

The first session on the new track lasted nine minutes. The fans didn't even get to see what they paid for. It all happened because of a loose manhole cover for a sewer that Carlos Sainz drove over. The flap hit the chassis of his Ferrari, damaging not only the chassis but also the engine and battery of the Spaniard's car. Frenchman Esteban Ocon's car was also damaged for the same reason. As a result of the incident, the practice session was interrupted and then canceled. The Ferrari team boss felt that such an incident should not have happened in the first place and that the damage caused would cost "a fortune". An inspection of the track revealed that the concrete frame around the manhole cover had been damaged. As a result, the organizers had to thoroughly inspect all the remaining manhole covers. Surprisingly, despite the fact that Carlos Sainz damaged the car through no fault of his own, he was penalized by the decision to move up 10 places on the grid.

A statement from F1 President Stefano Domenicali and CEO Renee Wilm, explaining the failure, unfortunately angered fans even more. The statement offered no apology. Another statement offered $200 in compensation to ticket holders for Thursday's event alone. Unfortunately, no compensation was offered to ticket holders for all three days of the Grand Prix. According to the latest information, some fans have decided to file a class action lawsuit against the Las Vegas Grand Prix.

Even the riders themselves were not above criticizing the organization of the whole race. The much-hyped event and the promised glamor and level of the event were met with derision. This was underlined by comments from Max Verstappen, who rolled his eyes at the opening ceremony and described the race itself as "only 1% sporting and the other 99% a show". The driver admitted he felt "like a clown" during the opening ceremony.

The lack of grip on the slippery track was a source of irritation for the drivers. Only the specially built track was up to standard. On the other hand, F1 drivers were no longer used to the conditions on the streets of Las Vegas, which had been specially adapted for the race. Racing conditions for the drivers were therefore less than ideal, and the city's residents have been living a nightmare since April, with traffic rerouting, the construction of a 6.2km bypass, repairs and the closure of some roads. Residents were so unhappy that the head of F1's parent company had to apologize to them. It will take weeks to return the city's roads to their normal pre-F1 configuration, but officials have said they should be up and running by Christmas.

The prospect of a 10-year contract to host F1 in Las Vegas and the reception of this year's event will be an interesting test not only for the organizers and fans, but also for the patience of the city's residents. As they say, if you make no mistakes, you make no money. This year's Las Vegas Grand Prix was expected to generate $500 million in revenue. An overestimation of fan demand and extravagant initial pricing made it one of the most expensive F1 races on the calendar this year.

Analyzing all aspects of the Las Vegas Grand Prix, the event was certainly not designed to attract new motorsport fans. F1's owner, Liberty Media, saw the event as a showcase for the best drivers. Over the past two years, the media has outdone itself in its coverage of the event. The purchase price of the land at the end of the strip for the paddock and permanent pit-stop building alone cost Liberty $240 million. Thankfully, the exorbitant licensing fees that F1 was reportedly demanding from all businesses with a view of the Las Vegas circuit have been mitigated.

The decision to hold one of the F1 races in Las Vegas was made in response to the sport's growing popularity with US viewers on Netflix. This is the third F1 race on the annual calendar to be held on US soil. Compared to last year, ESPN's audience fell to 8%. The race in Brazil on 5 November was won by Verstappen and was the most watched sports programme of the day (according to SportsMedia Watch research). Viewers around the world still hold Formula One in high regard and enjoy watching the queen of motorsport. Let's hope the organization of these races is even better in the years to come. The fans on the ground and those watching on the various broadcasters' platforms must not be disappointed with the organization of next year's Grand Prix.

‍#SzymonKarbowski #StreamVX #FormulaOne #F1 #GrandPrix #LasVegas

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