Las Vegas Grand Prix 2024: Why is F1 race on Saturday starting so late?

F1 heads to Vegas as Max Verstappen closes in on the world title at round 22 of the 2024 season

F1 next heads to the famous Sin City strip for the second edition of the Las Vegas Grand Prix and round 22 of the 2024 season.

Max Verstappen is on the cusp of a fourth successive world championship after his masterful drive in the wet at the last race in Brazil. With a 62-point advantage over Lando Norris with three races remaining, the Dutchman can clinch the title in Vegas if he finishes above the McLaren driver.

Lewis Hamilton will be eyeing a strong showing after a weekend to forget in Sao Paulo, as his time as a Mercedes driver nears its end before his 2025 move to Ferrari.

Verstappen won last year’s inaugural race in Vegas, when Charles Leclerc claimed second place on the last lap with an overtake on Sergio Perez.

See below for all the key information ahead of the race in Las Vegas :

When is the Las Vegas Grand Prix?

All times GMT

Friday 22 November

• Free practice 1: 2:30am
• Free practice 2: 6am

Saturday 23 November

• Free practice 3: 2:30am
• Qualifying: 6am

Sunday 24 November

• Race: 6am (10pm Nov 23, local time)

Why is the race on a Saturday night and why does it start so late?

Last year’s race in Vegas was the first F1 grand prix not to be held on a Sunday in 38 years.

In a bid to ensure as many viewers as possible watch the race, it is held on a Saturday night so fans in Europe can watch on Sunday morning.

The fact it is a night race means that if it was held on Sunday night in Vegas, fans would have to watch at the inconvenient and unsociable time of Monday morning. The race would unquestionably lose viewers.

F1 was always keen to host the race on the Sin City strip at night, with vibrant neon lights aplenty.

Why is it as late as 10pm local time? If it was a few hours earlier, it would be in the middle of the night for fans in Europe, similar to the 4am start time for the Australian Grand Prix.

Saturday night is also the traditional slot for all the big sporting events in Vegas, usually big boxing or UFC fights at the MGM Grand Garden Arena or T-Mobile Arena.

The organisers have made one change for 2024: qualifying has been brought forward two hours to 10pm local time, with last year’s midnight slot deemed too late even for Vegas hours.

F1 heads to Sin City next for the Las Vegas Grand Prix (Getty Images)

What is the 2024 F1 calendar?

ROUND 22 - LAS VEGAS

Las Vegas Street Circuit - 21-23 November

ROUND 23 - QATAR (sprint race)

Lusail International Circuit, Lusail - 29 November - 1 December

ROUND 24 - ABU DHABI

Yas Marina Circuit - 6-8 December

Driver Standings

1. Max Verstappen - 393 points

2. Lando Norris - 331 points

3. Charles Leclerc - 307 points

4. Oscar Piastri - 262 points

5. Carlos Sainz - 244 points

6. George Russell - 192 points

7. Lewis Hamilton - 190 points

8. Sergio Perez - 151 points

9. Fernando Alonso - 62 points

10. Nico Hulkenberg - 31 points

11. Yuki Tsunoda - 28 points

12. Pierre Gasly - 26 points

13. Lance Stroll - 24 points

14. Esteban Ocon - 23 points

15. Kevin Magnussen - 14 points

16. Alex Albon - 12 points

17. Daniel Ricciardo - 12 points

18. Ollie Bearman - 7 points

19. Franco Colapinto - 5 points

20. Liam Lawson - 4 points

21. Zhou Guanyu - 0 points

22. Logan Sargeant - 0 points

23. Valtteri Bottas - 0 points

Constructors’ Championship

1. McLaren - 593 points

2. Ferrari - 557 points

3. Red Bull Racing - 544 points

4. Mercedes - 382 points

5. Aston Martin - 86 points

6. Alpine - 49 points

7. Haas - 46 points

8. RB - 44 points

8. Williams - 17 points

10. Sauber - 0 points