F1 have made key Las Vegas Grand Prix change that will impact British fans after criticism

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Las Vegas is gearing up for the second race around the newly created street circuit that made its debut last season.

It is the third round of the year to be held in the United States following on from Miami and Austin, with the Las Vegas street circuit being the second largest circuit on the calendar apart from Spa-Francorchamps.

Drivers will also reach top speeds of 217mph along the main straight, which races through the famous Las Vegas Strip that has iconic landmarks including Caesars Palace and The Bellagio Hotel.

After a successful race last year, there were a few hiccups along the way that plagued the event early on and organisers have been keen to iron out any changes according to a report from The Athletic.

Las Vegas GP changes timings of qualifying and practice

Last year, the first practice session was cut short due to an incident involving Carlos Sainz when he hit a loose drain cover and destroyed his Ferrari.

The session had to be red-flagged and subsequently cancelled while work was done to address the loose cover and any other potential issues around the track before the second practice session.

It also meant there was a lengthy delay, with the FIA only just managing to get the session in before the 4 am deadline which is when the roads must reopen to the public. Fans in the grandstands were also ushered out of their seats after workers’ unions stepped in and prevented those in hospitality from going out of hours.

According to a report from The Athletic, Las Vegas promoters have brought forward both practice and qualifying by a couple of hours to 10pm local time after criticism over the schedule last year. The start time of the race will still be 10pm on Saturday night local, as F1 looks to capitalise on prime-time audiences.

Las Vegas ‘Lewis Hamilton package’ sees huge price drop

One of the main headlines of last year’s Las Vegas GP was the absurd VIP packages that could be bought over the race weekend.

Some went upwards of £1 million which offered fans a luxury stay at one of the nearby hotels, hospitality at the race, and a chance to be part of the F1 paddock club with several friends.

One of the packages on offer this year was the ‘Lewis Hamilton package’ which saw a significant price decrease ahead of the race weekend.

Fans will be able to grab the three-day experience for just £533 which features tickets for the West Harmon Grandstands which overlooks the straight leading into the final corner.