Did you know? The beginnings of the love affair between Formula 1 and Las Vegas actually date back to the early 1980s! Discover the crazy story of the first Grand Prix of the “city of vice” organized… in the Caesars Palace parking lot!
This is the kind of unusual story that F1 enthusiasts love it. Today's anecdote brings us back to early 1980s, a glorious era to the sound of turbocharged engines packed with powerwhen the queen discipline occurred for the first time at vegas. But in conditions that are the polar opposite of the Grand Prix “with Liberty Media sauce”.
When F1 comes to Vegas
And at F1 modern understood better than anyone the importance of polish your toy well so that it shines brightly, the coming of world championship in Las Vegas did not always rhyme with “sequins” or “glamour”.
The first time F1 ventured into the heart of the Nevada desert was in 1981. At the time, the discipline was not at test shot in American territory after visiting legendary circuits like Sebring, Riverside or Watkins Glen.
From 1976 to 1983, the country could already boast of having two races per year with Long Beach (US GP West) and Detroit (Eastern USA GP), the latter taking up the torch alone until 1988 under its own name. Without forgetting Phoenix, Indianapolis and, today, Austin et Miami under different names.
In short, the American history of F1 goes back a long way. This is how Las Vegas was added to the list for the 1981 final, a season where the calendar counted down three Grands Prix in the United States in addition to Long Breach et Detroit.
But unlike circuit traced in the urban center and partly on the famous Strip, the event at the time was organized with the financial support of the Caesars Palace who opened his… parking lots to build a track from scratch.
Two finals then gone!
The temporary circuit, long 3,650 kmhad divided the pilots who judged him monotone or too restrictive for the neck due to its counterclockwise direction. The race was won by the Australian Alan Jones (Williams) in front of the French Alain Prost (Renault) and the Italian Bruno Giacomelli (Alfa Romeo). Fifth, the Brazilian Nelson Piquet (Brabham) won his first world title against Carlos Reutemanndistant eighth.
Despite a lack of enthusiasm, sparse stands and significant financial losses, F1 made its return in 1982. The Italian Michele Alboreto (Tyrrell) triumphed under the crushing heat (which earned him a little kiss from… Diana Ross on the podium!) in front of the Briton John Watson (McLaren) and the American Eddie Cheever (Ligier).
This second test, however, marked the swan song of F1 in Las Vegas at the time. The following year, the series CART (became the‘IndyCar) took over on a oval version of the circuit.
But despite adjustments to improve the show, public interest remained limited, sealing the fate of motor racing Las Vegas after 1984. The site was then transformed into commercial space.
