Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands drives during a practice session at the Formula One Las Vegas Grand Prix auto race, Friday, Nov. 21, 2025 in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)

F1 is among the most watched international sports with over 800 million viewers globally. 20 drivers race in 24 cities in a season with a range of different types of tracks. The Las Vegas Grand Prix, or LVGP, track runs 3.8 miles and features 17 turns all on the iconic Las Vegas Strip. A typical F1 race falls on a Sunday, but Las Vegas decided to host their grand prix on a Saturday night in typical Sin City fashion.

F1 and Netflix released a docuseries, “Drive to Survive,” which is responsible for some of the growth of Formula1 viewership, specifically in the United States. The docuseries style brings in casual fans who haven’t watched a F1 race yet, but converts them to fans who wake up early to catch races on the other side of the world.

I was lucky enough to attend the LVGP this year and it was unlike any other sporting event in the city. Las Vegas has cemented itself as an established sports city in recent years. The first major sports edition to the city came in the form of an NHL expansion team, the Vegas Golden Knights. The Las Vegas Aces are the reigning champions of the WNBA, proving Vegas is a sports city. The move of the Raiders, a NFL team, to Vegas further affirms the city’s prioritization of hosting sporting events. The next sports team to join the city’s roster will be the MLB’s Oakland A’s expected to make their Vegas debut in 2026, with a brand new stadium expected in 2027.

The LVGP draws out a lot of celebrities for the three-day event. Celebrity chefs cater the event for some of the most exclusive seating. The LVGP has quickly become one of the most expensive and exclusive events in the city.

Louis Tomlinson stands in the pit area before the Formula One Las Vegas Grand Prix auto race, Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025 in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

I flew home from SCU on Thursday, November 20th and went straight to Day 1, the practice round. F1 Academy races on the track in between practice rounds. Each day features pit lane walks and hot laps from Paddock Club guests. Paddock Club tickets are among the most exclusive with access to VIP experiences and word-class cuisine.

The second day of the LVGP is the third practice session followed by the qualifying session.

Norris secured pole position with Verstappen in second and Sainz in third. Friday night’s forecast promised rain—and rain it did. I spent some of the night inside but made it a point to watch the qualifying session.

Day 3 of the LVGP is the Grand Prix. Drivers race 50 laps or 120 minutes, whichever comes first. Verstappen finished with a time of 1:21:08.429. The energy for Day 3 was up and so was the crowd.

The podium finishers were driven by Terry Crews in a Lego car to the Bellagio Fountains for some pictures and a fountain show. The fountain show streamed on the broadcast, but was not live, I observed. The Bellagio Fountains are perhaps Las Vegas’ most iconic landmark so of course they had to be featured in the city’s Grand Prix.

The drivers then went back to Start/Finish in front of Grandstands for the actual podium photos and celebration. Lando Norris celebrated with Russell and Verstappen before his disqualification the next day. Kimi Antonelli was upgraded to a 3rd place finish after the McLaren drivers were disqualified.

The smell of burning tyres and the sound of whirring cars characterize any high speed race. The drivers race at over 200 mph, making it difficult to get a good look at the cars, but not to worry because you can see it all again in about 1.5 minutes. Some of the more exclusive seating offers trackside luxurious experiences with a Vegas twist: bottle service.

Las Vegas hosts F1 like no other city. The drivers race down the Strip passing world-famous casinos. With its unique position as the third to last race of the season, points matter. Verstappen, Norris and Piastri will compete for the final points of the season to determine who walks away with the championship.

Formula 1’s most recent race unfolded in Las Vegas Nov. 20th-22nd. Redbull’s Max Verstappen won the grand prix after a quick maneuver in the first lap of the race, leading for the majority of the race. Both McLaren drivers were disqualified the following day after their cars failed to meet regulations. This disqualification has tightened the race for the Formula One World Drivers' Champion with Verstappen, Norris, and Piastri as the remaining eligible drivers.