Las Vegas Grand Prix organisers have claimed a total of 315,000 guests attended over the weekend, making it the second-best attended Formula 1 race in the US this year behind the United States Grand Prix in Austin, Texas.
The third US race on the schedule is Miami, with this year’s grand prix attracting an attendance of roughly 270,000.
According to Formula 1 travel guide platform, F1 Destinations, the total attendance figure for Las Vegas makes it the seventh best-attended race of the 2023 season.
The article added that this season has attracted some 5.6 million fans so far, with just the race in Abu Dhabi to come.
News of the attendance figure will come as a relief to organisers, after Thursday’s sessions were derailed by a loose drain cover that damaged the Ferrari of Carlos Sainz, and led to the cancellation of Free Practice 1.
Extensive inspections and work to stop the incident from happening elsewhere around the street circuit resulted in Free Practice 2 being pushed back to 2:30am local time – two hours later than planned. At 1:30am, organisers closed fan zones and grandstands.
Fans were offered little consolation for missing out, as those with Thursday-only tickets offered a $200 (£160/€183) voucher to be used towards merchandise in the Las Vegas Grand Prix Official Shop. Those with three-day and four-day passes were not offered compensation.
Ahead of yesterday’s (Sunday’s) race, a Nevada law firm revealed it had begun legal action against Las Vegas Grand Prix to obtain refunds for Thursday’s attendees.
Wednesday’s opening ceremony saw some 30,000 tickets available, but seats in the main grandstand were largely empty. Total fan capacity at Las Vegas Strip Circuit amounts to just over 100,000, but this does not include private viewing areas located within hotels around the city.
Yesterday’s race was won by Red Bull driver Max Verstappen, followed by Ferrari’s Charles Lelerc in second and Red Bull’s Sergio Pérez.
Next year’s Las Vegas Grand Prix is scheduled to take place between November 21-23.
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