F1 knows, given the spectacular fanfare so far surrounding Las Vegas, it cannot now afford for anything to fall flat, especially the on-track action, if the city is to commit for the longer term. "We thought it would be much more effective to deliver an event that would be very challenging but on the other side, very fascinating," said Domenicali, in conversation with this writer. "We thought there was this opportunity, so we jumped into this project with the right enthusiasm, the right people and the right partners. From the first time I went there in September 2021, to now believe we can deliver one of the greatest weekend sporting events in 2023, is something incredible."
Domenicali knows, however, it is a step-by-step process. He added: "F1 is not their bread and butter. You need to try to convince them to invest with you, believing there will be great potential for a bigger future and also for the community of Las Vegas. We are really working on the details to make sure that we will do everything needed to deliver that incredible event.
"One of the things we have learned over the years, and one of the reasons why Formula 1 was unsuccessful before [in the United States], is that it did not really communicate about Formula 1 apart from the three days of the grand prix. Our approach has completely changed, through social media, the media itself talking about the growth of F1 in the US, with Netflix no doubt, and with drivers that understand everything about their role of being a Formula 1 ambassador. All this has helped growth in this new market."
Lewis Hamilton is likely to be right in one respect, that as an event, the Las Vegas Grand Prix could just be the best of all time. But as with any new event, it often stands or falls on the quality of the racing. Until then, nothing is certain.
Images courtesy of RedBull Content Pool.