Speaking to motorsport.com in Bahrain on Friday, Bernie Ecclestone confirmed that he would once again resume talks with Las Vegas race promoters regarding the possibility of a Grand Prix in the US state of Nevada, being added to the F1 calendar.
“I am going to be talking to them [Las Vegas promoters] in another 10 minutes. It is possible that there could be an event there. They are going to have Formula E anyway.”
The F1 supremo also made it clear that it would be included as a second event in the USA, and not in place of the Circuit of the America’s Grand Prix, which will be music to the Texas circuit’s ears after it was confirmed a contract was in place with the Nevada location last week.
“We will keep Austin and have another race”, Ecclestone advised.
Whether that means it will instead replace another, more traditional circuit on the calendar has not been disclosed, but there are already fears that Monza may be the most likely of the current tracks to be bumped off Bernie’s list, which would leave many F1 fans up in arms at yet another classic track being lost to the sport.
The F1 fraternity last raced at the Las Vegas strip back in 1981, around a specially built track that ran through the car park of the Caesar’s Palace casino. It was not a huge success, as the dry heat and repetitiveness of the track layout made the race dull for drivers and fans alike. The glitz and glamour, which the state was renowned for were lost amidst the concrete of the parking facilities. The conditions also made the race physically exhausting for the drivers, and after just two years, despite two closely contended season finale’s taking place there, the race was pulled from the calendar.
No further details of the event have yet been released, and perhaps it will depend on how well the Formula E race does when the series adds the destination to its increasing calendar. Success for the electric formula could persuade F1 bosses that Las Vegas is the place to be!
