At 8:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 22, 2025, the Las Vegas Strip will fall silent — not because the casinos are closing, but because the world’s fastest cars are about to scream past the Bellagio fountains and Caesars Palace in the 2025 Formula 1 HEINEKEN LAS VEGAS GRAND PRIX qualifying session. The grid for Sunday’s night race will be decided in just 60 minutes, and with Max Verstappen holding the circuit record of 1:33.365, the pressure is on. This isn’t just another race weekend — it’s the third edition of F1’s boldest experiment: a street circuit lit by neon, where the track surface still cools beneath the desert sky and every corner feels like a gamble.
When and Where the Grid Is Set
Qualifying kicks off at 20:00 local time on Saturday, November 22 — that’s 11:00 p.m. Eastern Time on Friday, November 21, and 04:00 GMT on Saturday. It’s an odd scheduling quirk, but one born of necessity: Las Vegas doesn’t shut down at midnight, and F1 wants the race to be seen by the world at its most electric. The Las Vegas Street Circuit, stretching 6.201 kilometers along the Strip in Paradise, Nevada, is a temporary marvel. It snakes past the Las Vegas Sphere, loops around the Venetian, and dives under the overpasses near the Wynn. For drivers, it’s a blur of mirrors, curbs, and concrete walls — no run-off, no mercy.
Supporting events add to the spectacle. The F1 Academy First Race runs from 18:15 to 18:50 local time, followed by the Formula 1 Pirelli Hot Laps — a fan-favorite showcase where retired champions and rising stars take to the track in F1 cars from past decades. By 19:40, the crowd is already buzzing. The main event? It’s not until 20:00.
A Weekend Unlike Any Other
Unlike most F1 weekends that start on Friday, Las Vegas begins on Thursday. Practice 1 kicks off at 7:30 p.m. ET on November 20, followed by Practice 2 at 11:00 p.m. ET the same night. Practice 3 arrives Friday evening at 7:30 p.m. ET — a rare chance for teams to fine-tune setups under the same lighting conditions they’ll face in qualifying. It’s a logistical headache, but one the organizers embrace. The Formula One World Championship Limited, headquartered in London, and the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) in Paris, know this event is more than racing — it’s entertainment, tourism, and a global marketing bonanza.
And it’s working. The 2023 debut drew over 300,000 fans over three days. This year, tickets for the Saturday qualifying session sold out in under 48 hours. The Las Vegas Grand Prix, LLC, which runs the event under the official domain f1lasvegasgp.com, reports a 37% increase in international visitors compared to 2024. Hotels from downtown to Summerlin are at 98% capacity. The city’s tourism board estimates a $412 million economic impact — more than double the 2023 figure.
Why This Race Matters
This isn’t just about speed. The 2025 Formula 1 HEINEKEN LAS VEGAS GRAND PRIX is the 22nd of 24 races in the season — a critical juncture in the championship battle. With only two races left after this — Qatar on November 28 and Abu Dhabi on December 5 — every point counts. Verstappen leads the drivers’ standings, but McLaren and Ferrari are closing in. A poor qualifying here could derail their title hopes. And with the track’s narrow, bumpy layout favoring tire management over raw power, strategy becomes king.
What’s more, the race represents F1’s aggressive push into the U.S. market. After the success of Austin and Miami, Las Vegas is the crown jewel — a global stage with a built-in audience of 40 million annual visitors. The event’s timing, its spectacle, its sheer audacity — it’s all designed to make F1 feel less like a European sport and more like a global cultural moment.
What Comes Next
After qualifying, the real show begins. The race starts at 11:00 p.m. ET on Saturday, November 22 — that’s Sunday, November 23, local time. With 50 laps and a total distance of 309.958 kilometers, drivers will face extreme heat from the asphalt, glare from the LED screens, and the psychological weight of racing through the heart of one of the world’s most famous cities. The winner will likely be the one who balances aggression with restraint — and who doesn’t make a single mistake.
Behind the scenes, engineers are already analyzing telemetry from last year’s race. Verstappen’s 1:33.365 lap — set in 2024 — remains untouched. But McLaren’s Lando Norris was just 0.18 seconds behind. If he can shave off even half that gap in qualifying, the battle for pole could come down to hundredths of a second.
Historical Context: A New Chapter in F1
The last time F1 raced in Las Vegas was in 1982 — a single, chaotic event at the Caesars Palace parking lot. The track was flat, boring, and widely panned. The series didn’t return for over 40 years. Then, in 2023, everything changed. The new circuit, designed by Hermann Tilke, turned the Strip into a racetrack with real character: elevation changes, tight chicanes, and a long straight where cars hit 340 km/h before braking for Turn 1. It’s not just a street circuit — it’s a stage.
This year, with the addition of the Las Vegas Sphere as a backdrop — its 160,000-square-foot LED screen synced to race laps — the spectacle has reached new heights. Fans don’t just watch the race. They feel it.
Frequently Asked Questions
What time does qualifying start for the 2025 Las Vegas Grand Prix in my time zone?
Qualifying begins at 20:00 local time on Saturday, November 22, 2025, on the Las Vegas Strip. That’s 11:00 p.m. Eastern Time on Friday, November 21, and 04:00 GMT on Saturday. For Europe, it’s early Sunday morning; for Australia, it’s already Monday. Most F1 streaming platforms auto-adjust based on your location, but always double-check your local listings.
Who holds the fastest lap on the Las Vegas Street Circuit?
Max Verstappen set the current fastest lap of 1:33.365 during the 2024 race, driving for Red Bull Racing. That time was achieved in qualifying conditions, not the race itself. No driver has come within 0.2 seconds of beating it since the circuit’s debut in 2023, making it one of the most resilient lap records on the current F1 calendar.
Why does the Las Vegas Grand Prix start on Thursday?
The event begins on Thursday to accommodate the late-night race schedule. With qualifying and the race occurring after midnight local time, F1 needs extra practice sessions to let teams adapt to the unique lighting, temperature drops, and track conditions. This also allows fans to enjoy the full weekend experience without conflicting with work or school schedules.
How does the Las Vegas circuit compare to other street circuits like Monaco or Singapore?
Unlike Monaco’s slow, technical maze or Singapore’s relentless heat and humidity, Las Vegas is faster, wider, and more physically demanding. It features higher average speeds, longer straights, and more braking zones — but also fewer overtaking opportunities due to tight chicanes. The surface is bumpier than Monaco’s, and the night-time glare from the Strip’s lights creates unique visibility challenges for drivers.
What’s the economic impact of the Las Vegas Grand Prix?
The 2025 event is projected to generate $412 million in economic activity, according to the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority. This includes hotel bookings, dining, transportation, and merchandise sales. The race has become the single biggest non-convention event in the city’s calendar, surpassing even major concerts and sporting finals in terms of direct spending.
Is the Las Vegas Grand Prix here to stay?
Yes. F1’s contract with Las Vegas runs through 2030, with an option to extend. The event has become a cornerstone of F1’s U.S. strategy, alongside Miami and Austin. With growing American fan interest — 42% of U.S. F1 viewers now live outside traditional motorsport markets — Las Vegas is not just a stop on the calendar. It’s a statement.
