Grand Prix Plaza, the year-round home of the Formula 1 Heineken Las Vegas Grand Prix, reopens today with a redesigned karting track that allows visitors to drive on part of the Las Vegas Strip Circuit. The venue drew a predominantly visitor-driven audience in its first year. In 2025, 73% of all guests were tourists, while 27% were Las Vegas locals.The return of F1 DRIVE, billed as the first and only official Formula 1 karting experience in North America, is central to Grand Prix Plaza’s effort to keep a connection to the sport outside the annual race weekend.“F1 DRIVE offers fans a unique opportunity to step into the world of Formula 1 in Las Vegas, capturing the intensity and excitement of the Las Vegas Grand Prix beyond race weekend,” said Benjamin Larvie, General Manager of Grand Prix Plaza.Larvie said the experience is meant to deepen that connection by giving guests “a true sense of what it’s like to be behind the wheel,” while reinforcing Las Vegas as a destination where Formula 1 can continue to grow and “build meaningful ties with the local community.”Of those tourists who visited last year, 93% were from the United States, and 7% were international travelers. California accounted for 25% of all guests, which helps explain why organizers are emphasizing repeat visits and deeper community engagement as the attraction returns.Inside F1 DRIVEGrand Prix Plaza’s F1 DRIVE has a reimagined 1,470-foot track featuring 19 turns, spanning both indoor and outdoor sections of the circuit. The redesign adds a mix of technical corners, including a hairpin and a chicane, to create more passing opportunities. The design is intended to challenge drivers of varying skill levels and create more opportunities for overtakes.The redesign reflects the plaza’s flexibility from season to season. “Because the attractions and spaces within Grand Prix Plaza are designed to be temporary and flexible for race week, we are able to reimagine our 39-acre footprint each season and make adjustments to the F1 DRIVE experience based on key learnings or feedback.”Drivers race electric karts, equipped with Formula 1-style features such as Overtake Mode, ERS and steering wheel displays that track lap data in real time.“Our karts reach speeds of up to 30 mph, and we have built our program to be as authentic as possible to a Formula 1 race with overtake mode and ERS capabilities,” Larvie said. “So, by building a wider track, we are encouraging more overtakes, which in turn creates a more fun, competitive environment for drivers to race in.”Drivers hear engine sounds recorded from the 2023 Formula 1 season. They also receive live radio communications from a virtual Race Engineer inside their helmets, offering track updates, strategy cues, and overtaking tips.Fan response has centered on the novelty of racing on part of a Grand Prix circuit. “Fans consistently express their enthusiasm for the opportunity to drive on a real F1 track, typically only reserved for the world’s most elite drivers,” Larvie shares.He pointed to where the karting course intersects with the Las Vegas Grand Prix infrastructure. “You’ll notice that the track crosses the Las Vegas Strip Circuit’s starting grid, weaves in and out of the team garages, and winds around pit lane,” he said.“The reception to our track has been overwhelmingly positive during our first year of operation, with guest feedback highlighting its unique design and broad appeal to both racing enthusiasts and casual visitors in Las Vegas.”The new layout also makes the action more visible to onlookers, giving visitors a view of the grid from inside the lobby.Opening Weekend IncentivesTickets are now on sale for the reopening. Visitors can purchase individual admissions, add-ons, and bundled experiences built around F1 X and F1 DRIVE. Opening weekend includes giveaways for early arrivals, including swag bags for the first 100 guests on Jan. 30.Drivers participating in select F1 DRIVE experiences from Jan. 30 through Feb. 1 will also have the chance to post the fastest lap and win two tickets to the Formula 1 Heineken Las Vegas Grand Prix 2026. Pricing for F1 DRIVE begins at $37 per driver for the Fastest Lap timed trial. Nevada locals and military tickets start at $30.Packages range from a $37 timed trial to $99 Grand Prix-style sessions that include practice, qualifying, and a race, with discounted rates for Nevada locals and military personnel. Fans can bundle experiences for added value. An F1 X plus Fastest Lap option starts at $89 per guest. An F1 X plus Grand Prix package is priced at $125.Grand Prix Plaza will operate from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, with extended weekend hours until midnight. Organizers said F1 X will be closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.The Full Fan ExperienceBeyond karting, Grand Prix Plaza is reopening with a refreshed lineup of attractions. The plaza includes F1 X, a 20,000-square-foot exhibition that traces the sport’s history and technology through interactive displays and a redesigned 4D theater. Racing simulators are available for an additional $10.The venue includes the F1 HUB, which houses a flagship Formula 1 retail store and the F1 HUB Lounge. The lounge serves modern American fare and handcrafted cocktails.Larvie said the plaza is designed to encourage repeat visits from Nevada residents. “F1 DRIVE and F1 SIMULATORS deliver dynamic, ever-changing experiences that are unique each time a visitor participates. F1 X will feature new artifacts, cars on display, and several upgrades throughout that will entice fans to come back for a visit.”The push for locals includes discounts across the experience, from attraction packages to retail. “To further help encourage locals to return to Grand Prix Plaza, we offer local discounts on the experiences, including a 10% locals discount on items in our flagship F1 retail store, which is the largest in North America,” he said.“Returning this year, we will host both live viewing and rewatch parties, where we have DJs, food and beverage offerings, and prize items to win. Our goal is to build an F1 fan community and create an engaging and social environment for all to gather, have fun, and enjoy Formula 1.”A Year-round Formula 1 FootprintThe reopening comes as Las Vegas continues to expand its identity as a major U.S. sports destination, adding permanent attractions that extend beyond single-event weekends. Grand Prix Plaza is designed to keep Formula 1 visible in the city beyond the annual November race weekend.Larvie says new community initiatives are already being planned for the year ahead, with an emphasis on youth engagement. “For 2026, we are exploring new ways to engage with the community, especially the youth,” he shared.“Our goal is to grow the sport in Nevada and beyond, and we are looking into field trips at Grand Prix Plaza and to further extend our programs that built so much momentum last year,” Larvie said.In 2025, Grand Prix Plaza hosted community programs ranging from back-to-school drives to a karting camp with the local Boys and Girls Clubs. “Our F1® DRIVE karting camp is designed to engage underserved youth throughout Nevada, where kids from the ages of 12 to 15 explore the history of the sport, learn about the STEM principles that power Formula 1, and learn how to race competitively around the track,” explains Larvie.The plaza’s year-round presence creates an opportunity to keep building on that outreach, using the venue as a gathering point for local partnerships and youth-focused programs.“We recognize the strength of our platform and believe it is our responsibility to invest in and support the community that continually supports us.”
