The 2023 Las Vegas Grand Prix marked the first F1 race in 38 years to deviate from the traditional Sunday schedule, a format being repeated this weekend. The second edition of the Las Vegas GP will take place on Saturday, November 23, following its glamorous debut on the F1 calendar last year.
The Las Vegas GP is scheduled for Saturday to maximize global viewership for F1’s new marquee event. With Las Vegas located in Nevada, eight hours behind the UK and nine behind central Europe, the race’s nighttime setting adds to the challenges posed by the time difference.
This scheduling decision stems from the fact that if the Las Vegas GP followed F1’s traditional Sunday format with its planned 10 p.m. start time, it would occur on Monday morning in Europe, making it difficult for fans who would typically be heading to work or school to watch the race live. Consequently, Saturday Night was selected to cater to a broader audience. While aiming to capture the attention of the American market, F1 also hopes this timing aligns better with the viewing preferences of their European fans.
F1 is banking on the success of the Las Vegas GP, as it holds the unique position of being both the event’s organizer and promoter. Scheduling the race to maximize viewership is a strategic move to ensure a strong return on its investment.
Has F1 hosted a Saturday night race before?
This season, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia hosted their races on Saturdays. Though the decision received backlash from some fans, the Middle Eastern countries remained vigilant on their decision to hold the races on Saturdays to make sure the grand prix finished before the commencement of Ramadan.
The season opener in Bahrain was scheduled a week earlier on a Saturday to adhere to F1 regulations, which mandate a minimum one-week gap between consecutive races. Prior to that, the last time an F1 race took place on a Saturday was the 1985 South African Grand Prix, marking a 38-year gap.
Now that Las Vegas is set to be the third race of the season to be held on a Saturday, the fans won’t be surprised if more races are held on Saturdays in the near future. It is also backed by the fact that a lot of countries observe a two-day weekend with most sporting events prioritizing holding their events on a Saturday like in the case of European football leagues, UFC, and much more.
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Mohd Faisal Hakak is a sports author from Kashmir. He likes to keep tabs on the sporting world with a keen interest in football, motorsports, NBA, and other marquee sports. He is a science graduate from Islamia College Srinagar.
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