As Formula 1 heads into the final triple-header of the 2025 season, the Las Vegas Grand Prix once again takes center stage under the lights of the Strip. The third running of the modern Vegas event features a packed weekend schedule, with practice sessions beginning Thursday, November 20, followed by qualifying on Friday and the 50-lap race on Saturday, November 22.
The Las Vegas Strip Circuit, first introduced in 2023, measures 6.201 km and is characterized by long straights combined with slower corner sequences. Lando Norris holds the lap record at 1:34.876, set in 2024. Reigning pole-position leaders Charles Leclerc and George Russell share one pole each, while Russell and Max Verstappen each count one Las Vegas victory. The race’s location has historical roots as well, with Formula 1 having staged two Caesars Palace Grands Prix in the early 1980s.
Scrapping on the strip 😤
— Formula 1 (@F1) November 20, 2025
We’ve been treated to some epic battles in the first two instalments of the Las Vegas Grand Prix ⚔️
Here’s hoping for more of the same this weekend 👊#F1 #LasVegasGP pic.twitter.com/yMgmVLZgvY
Drivers face several technical challenges around the street circuit. According to former F1 driver Jolyon Palmer, the long straights require low downforce setups, which can make cars unstable, especially in cooler nighttime conditions. Maintaining tyre temperature over a flying lap is expected to be one of the weekend’s central challenges. Key corners include the high-speed run into Turn 7, where braking precision is crucial, and Turn 12, which links two long straights and punishes any mistakes on corner exit.
Pirelli has selected the C3, C4 and C5 compounds for the third consecutive year. While sessions scheduled slightly earlier in the evening should help with tyre warm-up, preparation laps remain essential. Pirelli notes that the improved mechanical properties of the 2025 tyres may reduce degradation compared to last season, when the medium compound suffered particularly in long stints.
As the grid arrives in Nevada, several championship battles remain open. Lando Norris enters the weekend in strong form after securing consecutive victories in Mexico City and São Paulo. He now leads McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri by 24 points, while Max Verstappen sits 49 points behind the front. With 83 points still available across Las Vegas, Qatar and Abu Dhabi, the title fight remains mathematically open.
In the Constructors’ standings, Mercedes, Red Bull and Ferrari continue to fight closely for second place, while Williams looks to secure P5. The contest for sixth remains wide open, with Racing Bulls, Aston Martin, Haas and Kick Sauber separated by only 20 points.
Though still a recent addition to the calendar, the Las Vegas Grand Prix has quickly built a reputation for dramatic racing. One of its most memorable moments came in the inaugural 2023 event, when Charles Leclerc executed a decisive last-lap overtake on Sergio Pérez. As the 2025 edition approaches, teams and drivers prepare for another unpredictable night in the heart of the Strip.