The F1 circus flies into the bright light city of Las Vegas in possibly the biggest event of the calendar this season and it is a welcome piece of excitement in a season that has been one-sided and kind of dull. But not Las Vegas, it should be all hype. Talking of devil may care, here is our 2023 Las Vegas F1 Grand Prix Preview where we dive into the unknown.
The Gurgler’s 2023 Las Vegas F1 Grand Prix Preview brings some thoughts on the race itself, a few bold predictions here and there, a more than a few barely interesting stats.
Essentially a quick summary of what a casual F1 fan needs in the shortest possible time for your convenience.
It’s a new track so who knows exactly what to expect, but at first glance it looks like a really badly drawn dog which has no legs, but one that will require a strong heart and a nerve of steel.
There’s no doubt the track will be spectacular with the lights turning night into daytime, especially from turn 9 through to turn 14 as they race around the fancy casinos, and their neon flashing and one-arm bandits crashin’.
A hairpin after a short run to the first corner screams chaos, and if that doesn’t clean up a few, the subsequent change of direction just might.
Looks like a few decent straights to help overtaking, but without seeing the width of the track it’s hard to tell if it helps fully. Even worse is the predicted cold temperatures makes it impossible to drive on like Singapore. Flushing all those hopes down the drain for an exciting race.
While most of the circuits and surrounds might set the soul on fire, the turn complexes at 6-9 and 14-16 look rubbish and only over-ambitious midfielders will make them interesting. Looking at you Lance Stroll.
But who knows, maybe they’ll be a fortune won and lost on every lap. Puns over, enjoy the race.
2023 Las Vegas F1 Grand Prix Preview – Race Rating
The Gurgler does like to use some obscure drivers in our Race previews and report, so who better to use than Teo Fabi to determine a race rating system.
So before each race we give a rating out of ten for four key category that are loosely based on each letter of Teo Fabi’s surname. Don’t know who Teo Fabi is, you should.
FAST? 8/10 – There’s some long straights and sweeping bends, and the speed trap looks like it will get a fair workout. Speeding down The Strip should look pretty cool.
ACTION? 6/10 – It’s a street circuit so there should be action, but the weather that is accompanying the race weekend looks like it may spoil the racing. But who knows. Going with a safe six.
BIG HISTORY? – 5/10 Well the US Grand Prix on street circuits has a long-ish history. Starting at Long Beach funnily enough. Then came Detroit, Dallas and Pheonix, some at the same time. F1 has also raced in Las Vegas before too, in the carpark of the Caesar’s Palace Casino where it was the last race and Championship decider, and coincidentally both drivers that were crowned as Champions finished fifth. So while this is the first race at this track ever, there’s still enough history in general for Las Vegas and F1 in USA.
INCLEMENT WEATHER? – 7/10 Weather sounds quite interesting according to the Weather Channel 10 Day Forecast. There’s a 62% chance of rain on the Friday. Then there’s the low temperatures on Saturday (17 degrees C) and Sunday (19) that are maximums, so who knows what the race temperature will be. This could make both qualifying and the race very interesting.
RACE RATING 65% – This event could be anything and should be something…..
2023 Street Tracks Stats
There have already been a few street races in 2023, so before the last of them let’s look at who is the real street fighter. Plus some bonus Race, Qualifying and our Driver of the Year stats for the street races in 2023.
- Four drivers have taken the five pole positions on street tracks this season.
- Two of Max Verstappen’s failures to make Q3 have come on street tracks this season.
- The two Ferraris top the average grid position for street tracks.
- Only three drivers have failed to make at least one Q3 session on a street track this season, two of them drive for Alfa Romeo and the other is Logan Sargeant.
- Red Bull are still 1-2 in the Championship for Street track points.
2023 STREET RACE CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS
2023 STREET RACE QUALIFYING
2023 STREET RACES – GURGLER DRIVER OF THE YEAR POINTS
2023 US F1 Grand Prix Preview – Stats
Want to know if your favourite driver for this weekend is a master of the track or the track is a master of them? Here then are some barely interesting facts and stats.
Stats are for Austin and Miami unless otherwise noted.
DRIVER GRID POSITION vs RACE RESULT – CURRENT DRIVERS
TEAM GRID POSITION vs RACE RESULT
HISTORIC DRIVER RESULTS
First visual below is for Austin only.
99 = a DNF. Grid position 20 is overstated as that was also used for cars starting in pitlane.
HISTORIC TEAM RESULTS
99 = a DNF. Grid position 20 is overstated as that was also used for cars starting in pitlane.
RACE RESULTS FROM GRID POSITION
From both Austin and Miami
- Complete madness at the first corner, as cold track, night time, short run to the first corner and over-excited F1 drivers meet hairpin. Maybe red flagged so they can do it again.
- A Ferrari will take pole. Probably Charles Leclerc.
- Double DNF for Red Bull.
- Lando Norris to win first Grand Prix, from a determined chase by Fernando Alonso.
- Alex Albon to qualify inside the top five.
- Logan Sargeant will find the wall three times over the weekend.
- Alpine drivers to run into each other.
- Valtteri Bottas to make little or no impression.
ALL RACE RESULTS – UNITED STATES & OTHER US THEMED GRANDS PRIX
ALL TIME RESULTS
2000 – 2023
1980 – 2000
1959 – 1979
