Will F1's $500 million Las Vegas GP live up to the hype? - ESPN

LAS VEGAS — Formula One has gone all in for its first race in Las Vegas.

The grand prix takes place on Saturday (10 p.m. local time PST) on a circuit which incorporates the city's famous Strip and is set to be unlike anything F1 has ever seen before. For one thing, it has opted against the traditional Sunday in favour of a Saturday night race. F1's investment in the inaugural event — in itself unprecedented for an individual race — is upwards of half a billion USD. You could make the argument that, purely from the perspective of a standalone event, this is the biggest race F1 has ever hosted.

It certainly has felt a bit like that to hear people in F1 talk about it. But can this event, or any for that matter, live up to such huge expectations from the word go?

The deal between F1 and the Las Vegas promoter is different to anything else which exists in the championship. F1 is so determined to make this race a success it has ripped up its normal business model by taking on the promotion of the race itself. Under other race deals, independent promoters pay huge sums to do the same for their events.

There is a clear visual sign of this unique investment in the heart of Vegas, where F1's impressive paddock building has been constructed. It is also reflected in the contractual commitment F1 has made. While officially this race has a three-year contract, F1 agreed at the start of this year to support this race for at least 10 years. Las Vegas officials have said they want a «lifetime partnership» with Formula One. The pressure is on to get it right.

This is proper Las Vegas. F1's previous attempts to race in Sin City included a championship-deciding race in a circuit constructed in the parking lot for the Caesers Palace hotel