After two editions held in 1981 and 1982 on the observe arrange round Caesars Palace, Formulation 1 made its grand return to Las Vegas final yr. The occasion turned a real weekend spectacle, as anticipated, whereas additionally delivering loads of on-track motion with a number of overtakes, some that includes spectacular braking maneuvers on the finish of the observe’s longest straight.
The circuit spans 6.201 kilometers, making it the second-longest on the calendar after Spa-Francorchamps (7.004 km), with 17 corners to be tackled 50 occasions. It’s a reasonably quick format, that includes three straights and high speeds that reached 350 km/h final yr. The observe presents a mixture of corners, from high-speed sections the place rear-end traction might be tough, to slower segments like chicanes.
In comparison with 2023, groups now have a full season behind them, higher familiarity with the observe and the tires, making it attention-grabbing to see how they adapt to the challenges and low temperatures of Las Vegas. Temperature swings between day and evening are vital because of the metropolis’s location within the Mojave Desert. Furthermore, scheduling the race on the finish of November means situations are removed from spring-like.
It’s seemingly that automobiles will run in air temperatures round 10°C, whereas observe temperatures will likely be barely increased however nonetheless chilly. Final yr, the utmost recorded observe temperature was simply 19°C.
As is customary for a road circuit, Pirelli has chosen the softest compounds from its vary for this race: C3 as Arduous, C4 as Medium, and C5 as Comfortable, the identical choice as in 2023. The important thing problem of the weekend will likely be warming up the tires, particularly throughout qualifying classes, with specific consideration required for the entrance axle. Drivers might want to rigorously carry the tires as much as the appropriate temperature with out over-stressing them whereas avoiding lock-ups in essential braking zones, comparable to these on the finish of lengthy straights. It’s essential to contemplate that tires have a tendency to chill on straights, rising the danger of locking up throughout braking.
Moreover, as seen final yr, low temperatures scale back grip, which raises the chance of graining. This might additionally result in quicker put on, favoring two-stop methods, which have been in style final yr partly on account of race neutralizations attributable to particles. Nevertheless, a single pit cease stays an choice.
Because of the challenges of warming up the tires, early pit stops geared toward gaining positions aren’t very efficient. Pirelli notes that extending a stint tends to be extra useful, because the tires are already as much as temperature.
It’s value emphasizing that this yr, groups benefit from a yr’s preparation, which might make them higher geared up for the Las Vegas problem. The 2023 expertise will likely be beneficial not just for the groups but additionally for Pirelli.
A major quantity of information on grip ranges and asphalt roughness was collected and shared with the groups, who in flip supplied their simulations. One of many first duties for each the groups and the Italian tire provider will likely be to confirm the preliminary roughness and grip ranges of the observe and evaluate them with final yr’s information. This will likely be performed throughout the typical on-track inspections and thru subsequent analyses.
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