F1 beyond the track: Hello Kitty, F1 Academy, T-Pain and more

Mon, Nov 24, 2025 (5:09 p.m.)

The Las Vegas Grand Prix returned for its third consecutive year with more than 300,000 Formula 1 fans flooding the Las Vegas Strip over three days. Celebrities came out in full force for race day, with everyone from Beyoncé and Jay-Z to Wicked’s Cynthia Erivo and Travis Scott sporting their favorite team’s regalia.  

No city does F1 quite like Las Vegas. The hospitality and entertainment offerings alone left a luxurious stamp on race week. But for all the trackside thrills we experienced, the race felt almost secondary to all the other excitement happening behind the scenes. As first-time attendees, here were some of the best things we saw beyond the big race. 

THE ENTERTAINMENT 
When it came to entertainment, the Las Vegas Grand Prix spared no expense—and rightly so, with our caliber of talent at hand. Nightclub resident DJs like Sofi Tukker, Dillion Francis and Steve Aoki took a break from the clubs to party at Formula 1’s fan zones. I never expected to catch Sofi Tukker spinning a festival-sized set in front of the glowing ambiance of Sphere. But they fit right in amongst the motorsport crowd, who swayed and danced to remixes of DeBarge’s “Rhythm of the Night” and The White Lotus theme song. —  Amber Sampson 

If you ever have the chance to catch T-Pain live, take it. Don’t hesitate. The rapper, singer and producer, who needs no introduction, has been crafting irresistible earworms for decades, tracks that still linger long after their club days have passed their prime. After the drivers' parade on Saturday, just before the big race, T-Pain took to the mainstage in the T-Mobile Fan Zone. And let’s just say, it was so loud we could feel it in our teeth. Was it the proximity or did T-Pain intentionally turn the bass up so high it moved our hair? Hard to say, but we’re pretty sure the entire circuit could hear “Buy U a Drank”. 

For over an hour, T-Pain and his squad of backup dancers delivered a rapid fire hit parade, running through some of his most iconic tracks. And let’s be real here, it was basically a full-blown retrospective of his entire catalog. “I’m Sprung,” “Good Life,” “Blame It,” “Shawty” – you know the deal. T-Pain was in full command, pop-lockin’, krumpin’ and body rollin’. You’d be hard-pressed to find someone having more fun on stage, and honestly, it was contagious. — GR 

THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT 

This year, F1 made a meaningful move to connect with the local community. One standout initiative was F1 Academy’s Discover Your Drive Career Workshop, where they invited Southern Nevada Girl Scouts into the world of motorsport. On a rainy Wednesday afternoon, the girls gathered in the F1 Academy paddock for a behind-the-scenes garage tour, followed by a chance to ask F1A drivers Emma Felbermayr and Nina Gademan questions. Through this partnership, the Girl Scouts earned a Women in Motorsport badge, the first of its kind. The excitement was palpable as the young girls absorbed every detail, wide-eyed and eager to learn what it’s really like to be part of the high-speed action. — GR 

THE ACTIVATIONS 

Hello Kitty is the pop-culture powerhouse that just won’t quit. Much like Barbie, she’s a beloved icon whose interests and hobbies have no limits. So it’s no surprise that Sanrio’s favorite feline had teamed up with the women-led F1 Academy, making history with their first-ever motorsport partnership. It’s an unlikely match at first glance, but as you step into the vibrant world they’ve created together, it’s clear that this was a match made in cuteness. From her own Grandstands at Turns 3 and 4 to an entire fan hub dedicated to the kawaii crew (including Cinnamoroll, My Melody and Kuromi), the Hello Kitty pit stop at the Heineken Fan Zone was a pink-hued paradise.  

"Both us and Formula 1 Academy are all about inspiring young girls and women to follow their passion," says Jill Koch, senior vice president of brand marketing at Sanrio. "Our brand values are so aligned in what we're trying to do for especially young girls, so it was a natural fit. From there, it was really just figuring out how Hello Kitty stepped into this world in a really unique way." 

The Hello Kitty activation wasn’t for just kids, it was for anyone who loves a bit of nostalgia with their motorsport with DIY stations, character temporary tattoos, photo ops, and exclusive branded treats. And of course, no race weekend would be complete without a meet-and-greet with Hello Kitty herself, who was dressed up in her own custom race suit, ready to get behind the wheel. — Gabriela Rodriguez 

Doritos’ Human Claw Machine, one of the zaniest trackside experiences, proved to be another great addition to race week. The beloved tortilla chip brand invited us to compete in a life-size version of the classic arcade game, and it was every Dorito divers’ dream. Suspended into the air as a Human Claw, we were lowered down into a pit of chip bags and tasked with scooping up as many as they could. Winners received a prize. And the loser? Well, no one’s a loser when you’re swimming in Doritos.  

In the T-Mobile Fan Zone, LEGO’s free F1 car building workshop was also impossible to miss. Attendees lined up to dive into bins of colorful bricks, crafting their own custom cars alongside fellow big kids. The setup was so organized it felt like a mini pit stop for Lego enthusiasts, everything you needed was at arm's reach. With our creations packed into special carrying boxes, we left not just with a mini masterpiece, but a renewed love for building things. Who knew a few plastic bricks could reignite your inner architect? — GR