When we heard that Formula 1 was going to create a course in Las Vegas, John and I decided to jump in and plan a trip. It was a fun adventure, both for us and the city of Vegas!
On our way! Thursday, November 16th
We are standing on a walkway (with a net covering) over the Strip which was a straightaway in the race course. They closed the street just an hour or two beforehand.
Finally meeting Ralitza!
Catch in Aria on Thursday night
When we bought the ticket and hotel package through Aria back in May, we weren't able to pick our seats or even the section. They told us that the main grandstands were already sold out but said our tickets would be in "East Harmon Zone." When we showed up in the East Harmon Zone on Thursday night for the 8:30 p.m. practice, we were SHOCKED to learn that our seats were directly on top of the start/ finish line and directly across from the pits!!! We couldn't believe our luck!
Nine short minutes into the practice, a loose drain cover blew off and damaged Sainz' car and cancelled the rest of the practice, putting the midnight practice into question. So we milled around for a while and tried all the fun food, took touristy pics, and then learned the midnight practice was postponed two hours. That was enough for us, having woken up at 3:30 am to catch our flight, so we headed back to the hotel. We were awoken around 3:30 am to the loudest sound and realized that practice had finally begun! It turns out that they had to make all visitors leave around 2:00 am when they weren't able to maintain security and staff, so the practice was closed.
Lunch at Bardot in Aria
John got us tickets to see O on Friday afternoon which was amazing!
Trading pics with the teenagers
From Bellagio looking back onto the Strip/ track
Sydney and Cress having a movie night back home
Caught a pedicab to the track on Friday night after dinner at Jean Georges
Entertaining ourself between practice at 8:30 and qualifying at midnight
Red Bull team came out to the stage in the East Harmon Zone (Verstappen and Perez) between the races
One of the tunnels that goes under the track as you walk back toward the Strip
And a pedestrian bridge that crossed the track
Look at Hamilton getting in his car! (His helmet is gray/green at the second from top bar on fence)
Saturday brought a trip to the spa where the race decor continued!
We visited Ralitza at Tiffany's
Dinner at Toca Madera where I was enthralled with all the fun and fire but couldn't hear a single thing
And there was a fire eater!
As the race prepared to start at 10 pm on Saturday night, all the teams pulled the cars and equipment out on the track. They set up ropes around the cars, and soon we realized why. They let VIP guests go out there and mill around before the national anthem, and it was PACKED! We saw all kinds of celebs mingling down there. The drivers left the mayhem for the anthem and then just walked back into the crowd to get into their cars. I have no idea how the drivers in the back made it all the way to their cars.
Let's get this race started! National anthem
Russell of Mercedes (pole position #3) getting ready. Verstappen was pole position #2.
Leclerc of Ferrari (pole position #1)
Finally got the track cleared of VIPs and now the teams are starting to clear off as well.
Justin Bieber waving the checkered flag!
Winner winner chicken dinner! #1- Verstappen, #2- Leclerc, #3- Perez. This Rolls Royce pulled up on the track and picked up the winners to take them to the main stage for the ceremony.
As we walked back up to our hotel, this firework show set off!
Time to head back to reality on Sunday morning (this car was displayed in our hotel lobby)
I figured it was safe to call Cressey once we got to the airport- was worried she'd get upset if I called any sooner- and sure enough, she cried tears of joy to see us.
I left these notes (top row) for Cressey hidden around the house the morning we left. I came home to these notes (bottom row) hidden around my room!
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