Las Vegas GP start time brought forward for 2025

The start time for the Las Vegas Grand Prix has been brought forward by two hours compared to the first two editions of the night race.

What was previously a 22:00 start time for the Saturday night race was the subject of questions from some fans and personnel alike, with the race getting underway at 01:00 on the East Coast and seeing paddock members having to work well into the early hours in Nevada. It also meant spectators at the track itself were likely to be faced with lower temperatures approaching midnight due to the late November slot on the calendar.

In an initial step,  last year’s event had its the practice and qualifying sessions taking place earlier, and now the race organizers have committed to a 20:00 start time for 2025. One of the reasons an earlier race has been made possible is the greater experience with opening and closing the Las Vegas Strip Circuit, that utilizes a significant portion of Las Vegas Boulevard.

The change brings Las Vegas in line with the other night races in Singapore and Saudi Arabia – both also 20:00 local time starts – while Qatar’s floodlit race starts at 19:00, Bahrain at 18:00 and Abu Dhabi seeing a full transition from daylight to nighttime with a 17:00 start.

The confirmation of the updated start time comes as Formula 1 and the FIA publishes all of the session times on the calendar, with the Miami Grand Prix again set to take place at 16:00 local time in May.

The majority of races are all 15:00 starts in their respective territories, aside from the other races in the Americas – Montreal, Austin, Mexico City and Sao Paulo – and Japan, with those events featuring a 14:00 start.