Las Vegas Grand Prix F1 start time, starting grid and TV channel
The penultimate Formula 1 race of the season takes place this weekend in Las Vegas, with a new street circuit which runs around the city's famous strip.
It is a new addition to the calendar, becoming the third US-based grand prix of the season following on from the successes of Miami and Austin. This weekend got off to an inauspicious start, with Max Verstappen criticising the opening ceremony before a loose drain cover caused damage to Carlos Sainz's car and led to the early end of Free Practice 1.
The opening session left fans being able to watch just eight minutes of cars on track before its cancellation, with Sainz in 'disbelief' after being handed a grid penalty due to the need for a new engine in the wake of the incident. It was a dramatic start to what has been hoped to be a weekend where F1 makes its mark on American audiences in a way it never has done before.
Qualifying provided fans with some respite from a disappointing start to the weekend, with eight different teams represented in Q3 as Ferrari overcame their tough start to take the top two spots on the timing charts. Charles Leclerc will start on pole, with Max Verstappen also on the front row as Sainz's penalty means he will start 12th.
Charles Leclerc is on pole for the Las Vegas Grand Prix ((Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images))With its positioning as the penultimate race of 22 on this season's calendar, it may have been hoped that the event would be the stage for a title showdown. However, Verstappen and Red Bull have wrapped up both the drivers' and constructors' titles, meaning that focus will be on those fighting for position lower down in the standings.
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With the track boasting one of the longest straights of the season, Ferrari will hope that their impressive top speeds this season can help them close the gap on Mercedes in the race for second in the Championship. However, Sainz's grid penalty may prove a setback in this quest.
Meanwhile, Lewis Hamilton will need two huge performances in Las Vegas and Abu Dhabi if he is to make up the 32-point deficit he is currently behind Sergio Perez in the race for second place in the Drivers' standings.
With a dramatic weekend expected, here is everything you need to know:
When is the Las Vegas Grand Prix:
In a break from tradition, the Las Vegas Grand Prix will take place on Saturday at 10pm local time, which means that UK audiences will have to get up early on Sunday morning, with lights out at 6am (GMT).
How to watch the Las Vegas Grand Prix:
You can watch the race live on Sky Sports, and you can add all Sky Sports channels to your existing subscription from £18 a month for a limted time HERE.
Alternatively, if you are not a Sky customer, you can sign up to Sky Sports via Now TV. For a limited time, you can get access to all 11 Sky Sports channels for £17.49 a month for a minimum term of six months - find out more here.
Starting grid:
1. Charles Leclerc
2. Max Verstappen
3. George Russell
4. Pierre Gasly
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5. Alex Albon
6. Logan Sargeant
7. Valtteri Bottas
8. Kevin Magnussen
9. Fernando Alonso
10. Lewis Hamilton
11. Sergio Perez
12. Carlos Sainz*
13. Nico Hulkenberg
14. Daniel Ricciardo
15. Lando Norris
16. Esteban Ocon
17. Zhou Guanyu
18. Oscar Piastri
19. Lance Stroll**
20. Yuki Tsunoda
*10-place grid penalty
**five-place grid penalty
Weather forecast:
With rain having been initially forecast for Saturday, there is now expected to be clear conditions for race-day, with highs of 21 degrees celcius expected in the Nevada desert. Temperatures are expected to drop drmatically for the race, with predictions being that it will be dry and 13 degrees by the time that the race gets underway at 10pm local time.
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