The Strip is sprinkling its stardust on F1’s ambition to break America, with drivers, fans and locals buying into a project that already has a special feel

When Formula One threw its weight behind promoting a grand prix in Las Vegas, the sport was taking no little gamble on success and on the bigger picture of finally breaking America. With the race now in its second year, hosting a potential championship decider and the city thronging with enthusiastic fans, every indication is that they have backed a winner.

There was an enormous risk in hosting a grand prix, especially one that required a $700m investment and involved agreements between casinos, businesses and local government to allow it to run through the heart of the Nevada city. They pulled it off last year, albeit once past the initial PR disaster of a loose water valve cover smashing into Carlos Sainz’s Ferrari, prematurely ending first practice. The race that followed was one of the best of 2023, praised by drivers and fans.