On Saturday night, under the lights of the Strip, Formula 1 once again tried to prove that Las Vegas deserves a permanent place on the calendar. The show was loud, bright and carefully produced, but something about the atmosphere still felt off. You could see the effort everywhere, yet the excitement in the crowd and the broadcast did not match the scale of the event.
It was clear that this was not Silverstone or Monza, or even Austin. It felt more like a race trying to convince people to care rather than one supported by a racing community.
Las Vegas looked spectacular on camera. It just didn’t feel like a Formula 1 weekend with a strong identity of its own.
A Big Investment Still Searching for Real Demand
The heart of the problem is simple: Formula 1 and Las Vegas has invested heavily in this Grand Prix, and now both are committed to making it work no matter what. The circuit, the infrastructure, the entertainment and the promotion all reflect an event built from the top down. What it does not yet have is the kind of natural interest that other races developed over decades.
The ticket market tells the story. Prices for 2025 dropped again, with single day options far below the previous editions. I fully support making ticket prices more affordable. Accessibility matters, and cheaper seats are a positive thing for fans. But the supply and demand dynamic still says something important. At most established races, lower prices are not necessary to guarantee full grandstands. In Las Vegas, the price cuts are a sign that enthusiasm isn’t keeping up with the scale of the event.
It feels like the business was built first and the fanbase expected to follow later.
What Vegas Gets Right
To its credit, Las Vegas knows how to put on a show. The concerts, the lighting, the production value and the entertainment offerings are all impressive. The Strip at night is a rather unique backdrop. As an entertainment experience, the weekend is unlike anything else in Formula 1.
But entertainment alone can’t create the emotional connection that makes a race special. That comes from history, stories and the communities that have grown around a race over time.
A Race Struggling with Identity
Some moments during the weekend highlighted this issue. The pre-recorded Mickey Mouse podium segment and the Avatar product placement during interviews made the celebration feel more like a commercial than a sports moment. Instead of adding character to the race, these elements raised questions about what the event wants to be.
Las Vegas clearly aims to be a Monaco style spectacle, but Monaco works because it has decades of racing history behind it. Vegas has the glamour but not the heritage, and that gap is hard to bridge with branding and showpieces.
Why It Matters
Formula 1 is growing fast, and new markets are important. But growth works best when the racing and the fans remain the heart of the event. If a Grand Prix starts to feel like a promotional platform with a race attached, fans notice.
Las Vegas has potential. It has a striking setting and world class production. What it lacks is the feeling that the race belongs to the people in the stands and the city around it.
Until that connection forms, Formula 1 will keep investing heavily in a weekend that looks impressive but still has not earned its place as a must-see race on the calendar.
