Why is the Las Vegas F1 Grand Prix on so late at night? Reason behind late start and no race on Sunday

Max Verstappen and the rest of the F1 drivers return to the United States for the third and final time this season with the challenge of taking on a brand new street circuit in Las Vegas.

The Las Vegas Formula 1 Grand Prix takes place from November 16-18 with the race taking place on Saturday night at 10 pm local time.

Of course, it makes sense for it to be a night race in Sin City but why exactly does it have to be so late and why has Formula 1 shifted the race weekend from Friday-Sunday to Thursday-Saturday?

The simple answer is because of the sport's viewership across the world.

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Why is the F1 so late at night in Las Vegas?

The race starts at 10 p.m. local time on Saturday, November 16 making it midnight or later for many viewers in the United States. 

Las Vegas Grand Prix CEO Renee Wilm explained the decision: "That was actually a compromise to make sure we are broadcasting at a time when our European fans can get up with a cup of coffee and watch the race six, seven in the morning, very similar to how we [in the US] watch the European races.

"So that was actually a very important component of planning out our sequencing for the race weekend."

On Saturday evening in Las Vegas, it's expected to be very cold, possibly below 40 degrees Fahrenheit. This could affect the Formula 1 cars' tyres. 

Mercedes Trackside Engineer Andrew Shovlin discussed the impact of these temperatures, saying: "If the track is down in single figures, that’s often a region where you go winter testing. You do a run, it’s very difficult for the tires to either get them switched on, or there may be graining and things."

Jonathan Eddolls, the chief race engineer at AlphaTauri, also mentioned that dealing with the cold will be one of the biggest challenges of the weekend.

Formula 1 Las Vegas schedule 2023

Practice 1

Here's the schedule for free practice 1 ahead of the Las Vegas Grand Prix, with drivers out from 8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. local time on Thursday. Here's how that translates into other major territories.

Practice 2

The second free practice session will take place on the same day in Nevada, running from midnight to 1:00 a.m. local time on early Friday morning. 

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Practice 3

Free practice 3 is from 8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. local time on Friday evening. 

Qualifying

Qualifying gets under way later on that night, at 12.00 a.m. local time. Here's how that time translates to places around the world:

Las Vegas Grand Prix

The main event takes place on Saturday in Las Vegas, with a start time of 10 p.m. local time. It's been moved to the Saturday evening so that for the majority of the world's population, it will still be Sunday. 

How to watch Las Vegas Grand Prix 2023

Here's how to tune in to the Las Vegas Grand Prix, with major broadcasters in the UK, USA, Canada and Australia all screening the event and many online streams also available around the world. 

F1 Las Vegas Grand Prix 2023 TV channel

F1 Las Vegas Grand Prix 2023 live stream