Three days of Formula One excitement about to hit the Las Vegas Strip

Editor's note: Este artículo está traducido al español.

The Las Vegas Grand Prix returns for its third year this week, transforming the Strip into a three-day motorsports extravaganza — complete with racing action, associated events and road closures across the corridor.

This year’s spectacle is expected to draw 300,000 fans.

“What I love about this event is that there truly is something for everyone,” said Emily Prazer, president and CEO of the Las Vegas Grand Prix. “From the first year, we didn’t acknowledge or realize how incredible the racing was going to be … and so, we can now massively stand behind the fact that we’ve got an incredible racetrack, which is a nod to the motorsports community; we then have unbelievable entertainment all around the circuit.”

Here’s much of what you need to know about this weekend’s racing and the surrounding events:

Street closures

Portions of Las Vegas Boulevard and surrounding streets within the 3.8-mile circuit will face rolling closures.

Today:

All roads remain open, though expect slower traffic due to barriers and track infrastructure, race officials say.

Transition to “hot track”:

12 a.m.-6 a.m. Wednesday: First “hot track” closure begins. Parts of Las Vegas Boulevard; Sands and Harmon avenues; Spring Mountain and Flamingo roads; and Koval Lane fully close at 2 a.m., reopen by 6 a.m.

8 p.m.-2 a.m. Thursday: Second closure as crews finalize the circuit.

Race days:

Thursday: Streets within the circuit close around 2 p.m., reopen at 2 a.m. Friday

Friday: Streets within the circuit close around 2 p.m., reopen at midnight

Saturday: Streets within the circuit close around 2 p.m., reopen at 2 a.m. Sunday

Sunday: Roads fully reopen by 2 a.m. No timeline yet announced for closures related to dismantling race structures.

Walking around the Strip

Pedestrian bridges will remain open during race weekend, with Metro Police organizing crowd control.

The bridges feature protective enclosures — panels and tarps designed to prevent objects from being thrown onto the track and to block race views. The barriers aim to stop bridge crowding and vandalism experienced in previous race years.

Weather

Temperatures are forecast to peak in the mid-60s Saturday but drop into the high 40s overnight Friday and Saturday nights, according to the National Weather Service. Forecasters indicate there is a chance of rain Thursday and again Friday morning, otherwise look for partly cloudy skies over the three days of racing.

Clear totes and backpacks (up to 12 inches by 6 inches by 12 inches), fanny packs, and small handbags (up to 6 inches by 9 inches) are permitted — so pack those extra layers accordingly.

Tickets

Tickets remain available online, but they’re not cheap.

General admission to the T-Mobile Zone at the Sphere starts at $140 for Thursday, jumping to $275 for Friday and $650 for Saturday. A three-day pass costs nearly $1,000. These standing-room tickets don’t include seats but do provide access to all live performances.

The Flamingo Zone along the Koval Straightaway behind the Flamingo is sold out across all ticket tiers and days.

Elevated grandstand seats are available at multiple locations, including Pit Lane and Starting Grid, T-Mobile Zone and Koval Zone. Thursday prices start at $150 for Heineken Grandstands (Koval Zone), $225 for T-Mobile Grandstand, and $300 for the Heineken Silver Main Grandstand at Grand Prix Plaza.

Special packages

Fuel the Magic Main Grandstand: The Disney and Formula One collaboration includes assigned Main Grandstand seating, Pit Lane Walk and access to two fan zones. There’s also some Disney-Formula One swag. The three-day package starts at $2,250.

Lewis Hamilton Package: Named after the seven-time world champion from Great Britain who now drives for Ferrari, this package includes a three-day ticket, assigned seating, West Harmon Fan Zone access and exclusive Hamilton merchandise, starting at $1,230.

Grand Prix Trio: Allows for three different vantage points across the circuit, switching locations each day. Tickets start at $2,462.

Premium Hospitality: Skyboxes, hospitality suites and MGM Bellagio Fountain Club access start at $442 per night but can exceed $9,000 for a single evening.

Parking

Fans headed to the Las Vegas Grand Prix will have several parking options across the Resort Corridor. Free parking is available at the Grand Prix Plaza, located at Koval Lane and Harmon Avenue. Garages at the Showcase Mall, Miracle Mile Shops and Oyo Hotel are also open to racegoers, along with other nearby lots and hotels that may require reservations. Officials recommend booking spaces ahead of time and arriving early to avoid last-minute crowds.

Getting to the airport

Harry Reid International Airport sits just 2 miles from the race circuit, and airport officials warn that nearby road closures and detours could slow access from Strip hotels and other areas to the airport. They advise passengers to expect delays getting to the airport, stay informed about traffic developments by texting “F1LV” to 31996; and if using rideshare or taxi services, to allow extra time and confirm pickup zones in advance.

Watch parties

Looking to catch the race without breaking the bank? Several free and paid watch parties are happening across the valley:

F1 Arcade (Forum Shops at Caesars Palace)

• 9 p.m. Thursday — Official LVGP After Party, $59 per ticket

• 7 p.m. Friday — Qualifying Watch Party, $69 per ticket

• Saturday — Race Day Grandstand Experience, $295 per ticket (limited availability, officials say), which includes: one hour of unlimited sim racing before the race, guaranteed private viewing area seating, live entertainment and bottomless drinks with select sharing plates

All F1 Arcade events feature multiple TV screens, food and drinks, DJ entertainment, and access to 87 full-motion racing simulators.

Water Street Plaza Watch Party (downtown Henderson)

• 7 p.m. Saturday. Hosted by the city of Henderson and Clark County, this is the only Formula One-sanctioned watch party.

The event features a live DJ, free food, race swag giveaways, photo opportunities and mini golf. The race broadcast starts at 8 p.m. on a 42-foot video wall.

Track schedule

Racers have two sessions of practice rounds, at 4:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. Thursday. Qualifying begins at 8 p.m. Friday. The red light system to start the Las Vegas Grand Prix is scheduled to begin at 8 p.m. Saturday.