Formula 1 confirmed on Wednesday that a third race in the US will be joining the calendar in 2023. The Las Vegas Grand Prix will take place in November next year, with the race starting at 10 PM local time on Saturday, a change from the traditional Sunday running.

F1 CEO and president Stefano Domenicali defended the move, highlighting the incredible backdrop to a night race on the famous Las Vegas strip. 

"I think that is a perfect time and a perfect slot for that event in this context," Domenicali explained.

"To have a race on Saturday at 3pm, that would be a total mistake. That is the reason why we are flexible, we are showing that's the right moment to have the best show in this context.

"I don't see any problem on that. And if you think actually in terms of timing in Europe, the race time we have on Saturday is 10pm, Saturday night is perfect because also that audience will be connected."

The addition of a third race in the US also serves to highlight the sports growing audience engagement in the country, a market which Domenicali deems “very important”. The Grand Prix will also be the first in the city since the Caesars Palace Grand Prix in 1984, which ran on an uninspiring circuit in the Caesars Palace casino car park.

Take a look at our route through the Nevada Neon ✨#F1 #Formula1 #LasVegasGP @Vegas @WynnLasVegas @MGMResortsIntl @CaesarsEnt pic.twitter.com/Iq9hTfZOm0

— Formula 1 (@F1) March 31, 2022

Domenicali is confident the new event will leave a better impression, calling it "the perfect combination of what Formula 1 stands for today"

"It's emotion, it's passion, it's a business, it's relationships, it's culture and it's intensity," he said. "And this is the reason why this is the perfect place to be."

With the US now the only country to be hosting three separate Grands Prix, Domenicali also highlighted the importance of the growing American market in expanding Formula 1 as a business. This goes hand in hand with the addition of the Miami Grand Prix this season, which will see racing hit the streets of Miami around the Hard Rock Stadium.

With Formula 1 expanding its influence in the US, partly due to the popularity of the Netflix Drive to Survive series, a race around the infamous Vegas strip is the ideal choice to capitalise on the growing market.

"We do believe, without being arrogant, that Formula 1 will be something that the American fans will love to be involved even more," stated Domenicali. "We do believe this is a very important market in developing the love of our sport."