Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali believes staging the Las Vegas Grand Prix at 10pm on a Saturday night is the “perfect time” to connect audiences from both America and Europe.
F1 announced on Thursday that Las Vegas would be joining the calendar in 2023, with the city’s iconic strip to host a street race next November.
The series returns to Las Vegas after more than a 40-year hiatus, after two races were previously held on a temporary built circuit in the Caesars Palace Casino car park in 1981 and 1982.
In a move from the traditional weekend format, the race will take place on a Saturday, with the aim of drawing in a primetime US audience as well as fans waking up in Europe.
Asked about F1’s decision to hold the grand prix on a Saturday for the first time since 1985, Domenicali felt the 10pm start time was the right compromise between those watching in the United States and its European fan base.
“Formula 1 cannot be static,” Domenicali said, as quoted by Motorsport.com.
“To have a race on Saturday at 3pm, that would be a total mistake. That is the reason why we are flexible, we are showing that’s the right moment to have the best show in this context.
“I don’t see any problem on that. And if you think actually in terms of timing in Europe, the race time we have on Saturday is 10pm, Saturday night is perfect because also that audience will be connected.
“By the way, we could have done even earlier or later, everyone would have been connected that night with Las Vegas, no doubt.”
Las Vegas has signed an initial three-year deal to hold the grand prix, but Domenicali hopes promoters will be open to extending the current contract.
It means there are now three races on US soil as of next year, with Austin and Miami already having a secure place on the calendar.
