Formula 1 returns to America for the third and final time this season with a potential championship-deciding race.
Max Verstappen, who dominated the first part of the season before there was a slight fluctuation, is on course to wrap up the World Drivers’ Championship.
There is another interesting wrinkle in Las Vegas and that is the race that takes place on Saturday.
It will be the third race this season to take place on a Saturday, after the season-opening races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia were moved due to Ramadan.
But the Vegas race was moved for a completely different reason, because they want to take advantage of the environment.
The Las Vegas Grand Prix takes place on Saturday instead of the traditional Sunday
Part of the reason is officials’ desire to see the track illuminated by the surrounding Las Vegas strip
Max Verstappen can claim the World Drivers’ Championship in Las Vegas
During a traditional F1 race weekend, drivers take part in the first and second practice sessions on Friday.
This will be followed by a third practice session, followed by qualifying on Saturday and the race on Sunday.
However, that will not be the case this weekend, due to a combination of wanting to receive as many viewers as possible and the desire to see the track illuminated by the Las Vegas strip.
Due to the latter, the race organizers have decided that the race should take place at 10:00 PM local time.
If that happened on Sunday, people in Europe would be watching at 6am on Monday morning.
There were many A-stars present at last year’s race, including Brad Pitt (right), who will star in the racing film F1
The Bellagio hotel is among the venues touted as a potential host for world championship celebrations
As a result, Saturday night was chosen in the hope that they can accommodate both their American and European audiences as F1 looks to grow their base in the US.
There are a number of ways Max Verstappen can conclude the World Drivers’ Championship in Sin-City.
The easiest method would simply be to finish ahead of title rival Lando Norris, with both of them scoring points.
That would be enough to see the Dutch driver win his fourth title in a row in what has historically been a dominant period.
F1 officials in Las Vegas are tentatively drawing up plans in case the 27-year-old seals the title.
“I’m sure we can pull some ideas out of our hats and maybe arrange some pretty exciting possibilities in advance,” said Renee Wilm, general manager of the event.
“When you consider the properties on the Strip, Wynn and Encore are unparalleled when it comes to the highest class of hospitality.
“Then of course you have the Bellagio further down the Strip, with those iconic fountains, and the level of VIP service that the Bellagio offers.
“There are so many opportunities to showcase the drivers, especially if we actually have the benefit of getting a champion [crowned].’