Maybe.

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The third and final US Grand Prix will shortly be upon us, but before the race takes place we have to discuss the hushed controversy that is still lingering in the air.

F1 have made no secret of their desire to create a stronghold in the US, but why Vegas?

On paper, it seems obvious. The rising star of motorsport meets the entertainment capital of the world, but when you factor in the public reception to this announcement in combination with the questionable construction of the track and rushed timing, could this calculated move to conquer Vegas blow up in Formula 1’s face?

The announcement

The announcement that F1 would be hosting a race in Vegas was met with mixed reviews to put it lightly. Although some drivers had called for a race under the luminous lights of the Vegas strip and welcomed the latest addition to the calendar, the same could not be said for the wider world of Formula 1.

Following the Miami Grand Prix earlier in the year, many have been quick to assume that the forced theatrics that took place across the weekend will undoubtedly be carried over to Vegas and blown up to an outlandish scale. But, will the racing exceed expectations or fall flat and come crashing down in a downpour of disappointment?

The Racing

One of the many unknowns heading into this race is whether the weekend will deliver on track. Whilst we will have to wait until Saturday night to find out, what we do know of the track preparation is not all too promising.

As it currently stands, we are just over a week away from the cars taking to the track for the first time and it’s been well-documented that the entirety of the circuit has not yet been completed. Hearing of the last-minute rush to make sure everything is in order draws parallels to F1’s first visit to Saudi Arabia, which garnered a (justifiable)onslaught of criticism for multiple reasons, with one of the prevailing concerns surrounding the condition of the circuit.

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 However, this should not be the biggest worry for the track.

The audience

As work got underway to start constructing the circuit, I distinctly remember being bombarded with a barrage of discontent locals detailing the ways in which their everyday environment was being destroyed to make way for a weekend on F1. This has no doubt put F1 on the backfoot before any competitive running has taken place.

The event has been marketed as an excessive night of extravagance, getting rid of any suspicions as to who this weekend was targeted towards with the astronomical hotel prices that skyrocketed into the tens of thousands.

As a fan that will be watching from home, I’m hopeful that the weekend will live up to the expectations that have been set, but I would be lying if I said that there was part of me that was not slightly pessimistic.

Although it’s essentially a forgone conclusion that the upcoming race weekend will prioritise spectacle over speed, will the sports plan to heavily lean on the flamboyance and electric atmosphere of the notorious city be worth the gamble?