F1 analyst Karun Chandhok reveals the one huge change organizers should make to the Las Vegas Grand Prix

Formula 1 driver turned star TV analyst Karun Chandhok believes the Las Vegas Grand Prix would be much improved if organizers moved it from its November slot to the height of the summer.

Chandhok and the rest of the F1 roadshow has rolled into Sin City for this weekend’s race down the Strip – after 2023 marked the sport’s first return to the city in 41 years.

While excitement is at fever pitch ahead of the race, Chandhok has revealed the one major change he would make to improve the night race in Vegas. 

‘In terms of the razzmatazz, one of the things I think is tricky is the time of the year,’ he told Mail Sport, courtesy of Betway. 

‘When you’ve got the race in November in the desert, It is bloody cold at night and I think it’s hard to entice the same crowds and the same atmosphere when it’s 7 degrees, it was freezing at night. 

Last year the race was one of the best of the year but Karun Chandhok would make one change

‘It’s hard to get people to come and stand outdoors for 4-5 hours.’

Chandhok was speaking before F1 made last week’s decision to move the Canadian Grand Prix forward from June to May, to hold it alongside the Miami race from 2026 onwards.

The Sky Sports TV analyst, who is also regularly seen on American TV on ESPN’s simulcast, hinted that the Vegas race should be alongside those, creating a North American three-race stint.

‘From a sustainability standpoint, we all fly to Canada, all the freight goes to Canada and then we come back to Europe,’ he said. ‘Maybe if you had Vegas [with them], you could make a better show of it and do it at that time of the year.’

Last year’s much-hyped return to Las Vegas left racing fans delighted, with the track layout working perfectly for overtakes – and the race going right down to the wire.

An early issue with a broken drain cover wreaked havoc with the first practice session, but Chandhok believes that shouldn’t be held against organizers. 

Chandhok believes Vegas should join Canada and Miami in a North American summer stint

‘I think ultimately the race was great,’ he added. ‘It was a brilliant race, and I think that’s the most important thing. Honestly, a lot of people criticize them about the drainage thing on Friday and the delays and all that sort of stuff, but I didn’t have a problem with it. 

‘I was actually sympathetic because that stuff has happened at so many tracks around the world. I think it’s just because there was so much hype around Vegas. It had so many eyeballs on it so they got they got more criticism. It was tough because the time zone and how late it was, but I was actually sympathetic of the situation.

‘To me, ultimately it’s about the race and designing a racetrack in a city is always difficult. You have to go around existing infrastructure, buildings, fountains, bus stops, fire hydrants, all this sort of stuff. So, it’s not easy to do a good track.

‘In the end they did do a good track for overtaking. You got these big long straights, lots of DRS. It looks spectacular under the lights. I was actually just watching back the highlights of last year’s race yesterday and it was a brilliant race, and I think that is the most important thing.’