Formula 1 Drops Plans for Back-to-Back Las Vegas Grand Prix Weekends Amid Logistics and Competition

Formula 1 briefly considered staging a second consecutive Grand Prix weekend in Las Vegas later this year, but the idea was quickly abandoned due to concerns over logistics and competition with major U.S. sporting events. The proposal emerged as part of contingency planning for potential disruptions to the season’s final races in Qatar and Abu Dhabi.

According to Stefano Domenicali, F1’s CEO and president, the organization explored the possibility of adding a second race in Las Vegas immediately following the city’s existing event on November 21, 2026. The reasoning was simple: the infrastructure was already in place, making it a convenient option. However, Domenicali emphasized the risks of diluting the appeal of both events.

“There was a possibility of having two races in Las Vegas,” Domenicali told reporters on Wednesday (July 29). “But we don’t want to ruin, let me put it in this way, a jewel that is growing by undervaluing what we are doing there.” The concern was that running two consecutive Grand Prix weekends in the same location could reduce demand and weaken the overall impact of both races.

Timing also posed a significant challenge. A second race weekend would have clashed with the Thanksgiving holiday, one of the busiest travel periods in the U.S. Additionally, it would have competed directly with the NFL, which dominates American sports viewership during that time. Domenicali acknowledged this head-on:

“That is a major sport,” he said. “A lot of fans are watching that, so we need to avoid any kind of situation that would put us in front of something that, of course, is still very big in the U.S.”

F1 is now focusing on contingency plans for its Middle East races, with Imola, Italy, currently positioned as the front-runner to host the season finale if the Qatar and Abu Dhabi events face disruptions. A final decision on those races, both of which are sold out, will be made in mid-September, allowing the organization to assess global developments further.

The abandonment of the second Las Vegas GP underscores the delicate balance F1 must strike between expanding its calendar and preserving the exclusivity and excitement of its events. While Las Vegas has proven to be a massive success, adding a second race too soon could risk oversaturation and fan fatigue.