The Biggest Challenges Teams Will Face at F1 Las Vegas Grand Prix

• Formula 1 has had cold events before, most notably in Germany 2020, when ambient temperatures were around 50 degrees all weekend.

• The record low temperature for a Formula 1 race was 41 degrees in Canada, in 1978.

• This year's F1 Las Vegas Grand Prix could see temperatures below 50 degrees come race time.

The Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix circuit layout is not exactly a Suzuka, Japan or a Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium, but the event itself will still pose challenges for teams and drivers.

Autoweek provides an insight ahead of cars taking to the streets in the desert.

The Cold Weather

Formula 1 typically races in warmer climates, chasing the sun where possible, but Las Vegas will be at the opposite end of the spectrum. Remember, race time is 10 p.m. local time in Vegas (1 a.m. ET) on Saturday.

Qualifying one night earlier will even take place later.

While daytime temperatures could be in the high 60s—a rather pleasant temperature—that could be as low as the high 40s by the time track activity takes place at night. That will cool the track surface, which will of course not be warmed by sunlight, either.

Formula 1 has had cold events before, most notably in Germany 2020, when ambient temperatures were around 50 degrees all weekend, while the record low was 41 degrees in Canada, in 1978. Preseason testing used to take place in Europe in the winter months, meaning the very start and end of running often happened in chilly conditions. It is nonetheless unusual.

It means the tires will be toward the lower end of their working range, the grip will be lower, and there will be a greater risk of silly-looking mistakes. That often happens in slippery conditions, or in cool conditions after a Safety Car period, when temperature evaporates from the tire and leaves drivers almost as passengers.

Keeping heat into the tires, while ensuring they don’t suffer from graining, will be a big challenge, especially due to the circuit’s layout. High-energy corners are best to put heat through tires, but Las Vegas has very few of these, with the situation accentuated by the lengthy straights, along which the tires will cool further. That will also be seen, too, in other areas of the car, such as the brakes.

“Qualifying is going to be a real big interest I think for everyone to try and get the tire to work in that temperature,” said Williams driver Alex Albon.

Pirelli has already nominated the three softest compounds from its five-compound range.

Said Mercedes’ trackside engineering director Andrew Shovlin: “If the track is down in single figures (less than 10 degrees Celsius or 50 degrees Farenheit), that's often a region where you go winter testing, you do a run, it's very difficult for the tires to either get them switched on, or there may be graining and things. And then sometimes you just wait until it warms up a bit. So actually going to have to sort of race and qualify in those conditions, it will be interesting.”