Miami, Austin and now Las Vegas: for the third time this season, Haas is preparing to race in front of its home crowd, this time on the spectacular street circuit built along the iconic Strip. The setting is unlike any other in Formula 1, with the artificial lights of the world’s gambling capital and the colder temperatures of the night shaping a unique atmosphere. It will also be the longest track on the calendar, adding another layer of complexity to the penultimate stretch of the season.
Bearman set for his first outing on this circuit
This combination of factors creates plenty of challenges for the drivers, especially for Oliver Bearman, who will be racing on this layout for the very first time. The British driver arrives with strong motivation, boosted by a run of four consecutive points finishes and by the fourth place he secured at the Mexican Grand Prix, which remains his best result of the season so far. “I’m excited to go to Las Vegas, I’ve never been to the west coast of America,” said the Briton, who has recently been linked by several commentators to a potential future with Ferrari. “It looks like an incredible circuit along the Strip, which is really cool, and overall it’s an amazing weekend. Since I haven’t raced there yet, I’ve already spent time on the simulator, and it’s very fast, with long straights and tough corners. I think the most interesting thing is that the temperature is usually quite low, and so is the grip, which makes life pretty interesting for all of us. I think we have a fast car here, and since this is the final triple-header of the season, we want to score points, so let’s go for it.” – the Ferrari junior added.
Ocon’s goal and Haas’ position in the standings
While Ollie Bearman will be discovering Las Vegas for the first time, the same cannot be said for Esteban Ocon, who claimed an impressive fourth place during the circuit’s debut on the calendar in 2023. That event marked Formula 1’s return to Las Vegas for the first time since 1982. “The last triple-header of the season is here, and we’re heading back to dazzling Las Vegas for the third time,” Esteban Ocon commented. “This really unique track is incredible to drive, with most drivers flat-out for much of the lap. Racing in the heart of such an iconic city feels surreal, and it’s still hard to believe we can run down the famous Las Vegas Strip. The goal for the weekend will be to maximise the performance of the car and aim for the points. The battle in the Constructors’ Championship is extremely tight, so we need to take every opportunity. We’re ready for the challenge.” – he pointed out ahead of the Las Vegas Grad Prix weekend.
Haas arrives in the United States holding eighth position in the Constructors’ standings, just two points behind Aston Martin and twelve behind Racing Bulls. However, the team will also need to keep an eye on Sauber, which has closed the gap to eight points.
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