NEED TO KNOW: The most important facts, stats and trivia ahead of the 2025 Las Vegas Grand Prix

It’s time for the final triple-header sequence of the 2025 season to get under way with the Las Vegas Grand Prix night race. Need to Know is your all-in-one guide for the weekend through various statistics, driving pointers, strategy tips and more.

FP1 and FP2 at the Las Vegas Strip Circuit will take place on the evening of Thursday, November 20, followed by FP3 and Qualifying on Friday, November 21, and then the 50-lap Grand Prix itself on Saturday, November 22.

Vital statistics

• First Grand Prix – 2023
• Track Length – 6.201km
• Lap record – 1m 34.876s, Lando Norris, McLaren, 2024
• Most pole positions – Charles Leclerc and George Russell (1)
• Most wins – Max Verstappen and George Russell (1)
• Trivia – F1 previously staged two races in Las Vegas in the early 1980s under the Caesars Palace Grand Prix moniker
• Pole run to Turn 1 braking point – 150 metres
• Safety Car probability – 50%
• Virtual Safety Car probability – 50%
• Pit stop time loss – 20 seconds (including 2.5s stop)

The driver’s verdict

Jolyon Palmer, former Renault F1 driver: The track comprises long straights and slower corners. The long straights will necessitate slashing the downforce levels, so the cars will feel inherently skittish before you even factor in the cool temperatures. Building and maintaining tyre temperatures will also be tricky.

Turn 6 into 7 is one of the toughest braking zones, accelerating through a long left-hander before hitting the brakes for 7 – it’ll be easy to lock the inside front there.

Turn 12 is also crucial as it punctuates two long straights. Finding the balance between braking well and preparing the exit is tough, and mistakes here are punishing.

Having good braking ability and traction will be the key and, in general, corner exits will be crucial onto the long straights.

Las Vegas GP pole-sitters

• 2024 – George Russell (Mercedes)
• 2023 – Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)

Las Vegas GP winners

• 2024 – George Russell (Mercedes)
• 2023 – Max Verstappen (Red Bull)

Tyre and strategy insight

“For the third consecutive year, the compounds chosen for the Las Vegas street circuit are the C3, C4 and C5,” points out Pirelli’s weekend preview.

“One of the main challenges will be tyre temperature management, especially during Qualifying.

“The fact the sessions are running earlier this year will help the drivers, as conditions won’t be quite as cold, thus helping tyre warm-up. However, the preparation lap prior to the flying lap will still be crucial to get the tyres up into the right temperature window.

“Furthermore, this year’s tyres have improved mechanical properties, which should see a reduction in degradation, which was particularly noticeable on the medium compound last year.

“The decision not to go for a softer trio was down to the risk of graining, prevalent since the first edition of this race, which could excessively compromise the efficiency of the softest compound in the current range.”

Current form

Lando Norris is the driver in form as the F1 paddock sets up at the Las Vegas Strip Circuit, having claimed back-to-back pole positions and victories at the Mexico City and Sao Paulo Grands Prix.

Combined with some struggles for McLaren team mate Oscar Piastri, it means the gap between the Briton and the Australian now stands at 24 points – just one short of a Grand Prix win.

However, the title race is far from over, with 83 points still up for grabs over the Las Vegas, Qatar (which features the final Sprint of the season) and Abu Dhabi weekends.

Behind them, Red Bull’s Max Verstappen has been doing all he can to remain in the hunt, though his task has been made that little bit harder by falling 49 points off the championship lead.

Beyond the Drivers’ situation, there are some fascinating Teams’ battles brewing – none more so than Mercedes, Red Bull and Ferrari’s squabble for P2 in the standings.

And, while Williams are edging closer to a superb P5, it remains to be seen who will come away with sixth position, with Racing Bulls, Aston Martin, Haas and Kick Sauber covered by just 20 points.

Plenty to play for, then, around the famous casinos of Las Vegas…

Iconic moment

It’s only been on the calendar for a couple of years but the Las Vegas Grand Prix provided plenty of action and drama in the inaugural 2023 race – none more so than Charles Leclerc’s stunning last-lap pass on Sergio Perez.

Relive the moment in the video player below...