How Liberty’s Las Vegas F1 gamble paid off

Saturday, April 6, 2024 10:22 AM
  • Adam Cooper, Motorsport

Last November’s inaugural Las Vegas Grand Prix was an extraordinary undertaking for Liberty Media and Formula 1, and it worked out better than most anticipated.

Liberty convinced local authorities and major casinos to back the project and allow the city to be closed down, and for the first time the organization also served as promoter of the event, taking on the associated financial risks.

There were logistical glitches along the way, not least the water valve cover that destroyed Carlos Sainz’s Ferrari chassis and led to practice ending in the early hours of Friday morning and being run without fans in attendance.