First, a quick recap of our chaotic first night ‘highlights’ at the 2025 Vegas GP – contradictory directions from staff who didn’t know the layout, maps with no “You Are Here” markers, ushers who worked for hotels and couldn’t tell you where the entrance was. We walked almost 6 miles in circles! We met a guy who’d been jumping an 8-foot fence for three years. We commandeered a paddock shuttle with nothing but confidence and a well-placed Loewe bag. Ninety minutes of navigation for two hours of freezing bleacher time before the drizzle turned to rain and everyone bailed. For Night two, we were determined to do better!
We followed the same routine—left the resort at 4 PM after working remotely all day. Parked at the same spot across from MGM. But this time, no walking the gauntlet. We went inside MGM, found the Monorail entrance, and took it straight to Horseshoe station.
The difference was immediate! Well-lit platforms, clear signage, a steady flow of people who actually knew where they were going. The Monorail is great when there’s no major event overwhelming the system, tonight it was packed, but functional. Ninety minutes of chaos from night one became thirty minutes of efficient travel. We’d cracked the code, Finally!
But there was new problem on the horizon, literally! For the first time in Las Vegas F1 GP history, there was rain forecast through out the evening! We tried to prepare. We checked 3 nearby pharmacies/general stores, and every single one was sold out of ponchos! We bought an umbrella instead. It wasn’t allowed inside the venue.
So there we were, back at the same grandstand, same bleacher seats, same gas heaters flickering near the entrance. Except now it was raining. Not drizzling, raining! That cold, cutting Vegas rain that comes with wind and finds every gap in your jacket. The kind that makes you question every life choice that led you to this moment.
We had arrived at the tail end of the F1 Academy Race 1 and it’s no wonder the drivers suffered as well on an unpredictable wet track. 3 Drivers had crashed out including American Chloe Chambers . The eventual winner, Dorian Pin of Mercedes, led the final few laps under caution flag. We took the hour break between Academy race and Qualifying to search for dinner and get away from the cold rain. Unfortunately, the warm food stands were a brief temporary shelter before we had to gather around wet tables and chairs next to a heat stand chomping on hotdogs and Nachos.
We were determined to make it work as we headed back to the grandstand for Q1 and Q2. Around us, other fans were doing the same, some huddled under jackets, some just accepting the wet. The condition was dangerous for F1 cars zooming over 150 mph on the straights as they tried to avoid spinning and causing crash. As the rain got heavier and the temperature kept dropping, the exodus began. We stuck it out until 9 PM and bailed after Q2, at least knowing the top 10 drivers for tomorrow’s race.
The walk back was easier this time, Monorail straight to MGM, no 6.2-mile scavenger hunt. But the frustration was real. We’d figured out the route. We’d solved the navigation puzzle. And none of it mattered because the weather was relentless and the venue had no contingency plan for keeping fans dry.
Two nights in and we had a growing suspicion that Vegas, for all its glitter, wasn’t quite ready for Formula 1. At this point our experience in F1 Miami back in May felt head and shoulder above in good vibes. But Vegas surprises you in unexpected ways as you’ll see in our next blog! Meanwhile, you can catch a glimpse of our experience from Day 2 in the short below!
All Around The World 