Las Vegas GP adamant worrying 'misconception' has been solved

Las Vegas Grand Prix organisers have explained the reasoning behind starting the race at 22:00 on Saturday night local time.

Formula 1 returns to Las Vegas for the first time since the 1982 Caesars Palace Grand Prix and will be held on a circuit that will see cars racing past the world-famous hotels and resorts lining the iconic Strip.

The event will host the penultimate round of the campaign ahead of the now-traditional season-finale in Abu Dhabi, with F1 hoping to capitalise on the market boom experienced in the United States largely down to Netflix series Drive to Survive.

But since the announcement of a Saturday night local time start, fans Stateside have questioned the scheduling.

'Legacy fans' included

Speaking at a Liberty Media investor Q&A, Las Vegas CEO Renee Wilm explained: “The 22:00 start time was very much a negotiated compromise.

“It was very important to us that we allow it to be at a time where our legacy fans in Europe will be able to watch it with a cup of coffee, as many of us do here for the European races.

“And it’s not that different from... think about boxing matches that start here in Las Vegas and are broadcast in New York.

“So, although it’s not ideal for the East Coast, it definitely worked for the West Coast, it worked for us.

“Local stakeholders, they did not want us doing it even later. They were worried about noise and they were under the misconception there will be people in town who don’t want to be at F1 – they’ve now gotten over that misconception!"