F1 drivers, teams want earlier Las Vegas GP start in 2024،
LAS VEGAS – The Formula 1 Grand Prix of Las Vegas was a huge success, but the impact of the nighttime event on drivers and teams will be a major focus until its return in 2024.
Qualifying (12 p.m.-1 a.m.) and the race (10 p.m. local) took place on the same day in Vegas, the first event in a 10-year partnership between the city and F1.
For the teams arriving from Europe, it was effectively a double time difference: the eight or nine hours cut for Vegas and then what was a racing program, which also included a full media day and three training sessions. tests, more in line with a Japanese Grand Prix. .
“Everybody leaves Vegas a little f—–!” said Red Bull’s Christian Horner on Sunday morning in the hours following Max Verstappen’s victory.
“One way or another it was a brutal weekend for everyone behind the scenes, and I think we need to think about how we can improve that for the future.”
Late starts and changing time zones have been a topic of discussion during the week – at media day earlier in the week, Haas’ Kevin Magnussen said he had been awake for 24 hours trying to fall asleep completely.
During the usual drivers’ briefing, Sergio Perez shared a video on his Instagram of Lewis Hamilton sleeping in his chair.
AlphaTauri’s Daniel Ricciardo joked after the delayed second practice session, held at 2.30am on Friday, that he was “delirious” with fatigue.
F1 heads immediately to the Middle East for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, which will be the fifth race in six weeks. Next year, Vegas will be followed by Qatar and then Abu Dhabi in a three-header.
Ricciardo, who thought there would be a bye weekend after Vegas 2024, said schedules would have to change to make it work.
“No way. Okay. That doesn’t get my vote!” said Ricciardo after being informed of the triple header.
“And now, knowing this, they must bring [the times] forward, because we will be destroyed, especially at the end of the season. I’ve done six races and I even feel it. I hope they can make something work there. »
F1 held the race late, in part to minimize disruption to residents, who spoke out against the work needed to build the circuit in the middle of the city.
Ferrari’s Fred Vasseur said there was no moment that could satisfy everyone.
“If we need to improve, maybe it’s the timing,” Vasseur said. “It’s not easy to find, if you want to have decent timing for Asia, Europe, East Coast, West Coast.
“In the past we had no problems because F1 was for Europeans and we had to stick to European timing, and everything was fine.”
“Now it’s a global project and it’s much more difficult to find something that fits the expectations of the 24-hour time zone. But we will adapt it.”
