Pirelli motorsport director Mario Isola has openly admitted that the upcoming Las Vegas Grand Prix will be a “step into the unknown” and not only because it’s a completely new street track.
The next round of the 2023 Formula 1 World Championship will take place in Sin City, with the sport returning to Las Vegas for the first time since 1982.
For F1, there is an incredible amount riding on the event being successful, as they are promoting the Grand Prix themselves.
With part of the fast street circuit to consist of the iconic Vegas Strip, it’ll certainly be a spectacle like no other.
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It’ll have all the glitz and glamour of Monaco plus the addition of thousands of lights, as the race will take place at 10pm local time on the Saturday evening.
The Las Vegas GP will be the first race to take place on a Saturday since the 1985 South African Grand Prix.
It’s not just the new street track which marks a “big unknown” for the teams, drivers and for Pirelli, as forecasted cold temperatures will also present a huge challenge.
Whilst it won’t be the coldest race ever in F1, it’ll certainly be one of the chilliest seen in recent years.
The current FIA forecast predicts that the race will get underway when the temperature is just 12 degrees Celsius, something which will likely cause chaos.
Getting heat into the tyres will be extremely difficult because of the cool temperatures but also the fact that the circuit consists of predominantly fast straights.
There are very few areas where the drivers will be able to generate heat, an issue Pirelli have recognised, as they’re taking the three softest compounds to Vegas to try and help the drivers.
Those on the grid have admitted themselves that the Las Vegas GP will throw up several surprises for the fans, in what’ll be “quite difficult” conditions to manage.
“It is a step into the unknown, for everybody I believe,” Isola said, as reported by Crash.net.
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“Las Vegas will be cold, it’s a street circuit. We decided to use the three softest compounds in the range to try to generate grip.
“I can imagine a lot of track evolution and very low grip.
“But it’s a big unknown. Fast track, long straights, high speed and all conditions that are quite difficult to manage.”