Instead of the usual dry and dusty conditions, Las Vegas is experiencing rainfall in the lead-up to this weekend’s Grand Prix. Will this continue? And what unusual scenes has this caused in the desert city this week? Reporter Gerard Bos provides a behind-the-scenes look.
It’s Wednesday, media day in Las Vegas. And it’s raining. Not just a drizzle, but a combination of heavy showers, thunder, and occasional sharp flashes that light up the sky. As a global sport, Formula 1 is accustomed to various weather conditions. But here, in the middle of the desert, it feels different. Vegas is supposed to be dry, even dusty. However, today is different: the American heavens have opened.
People are concerned. Will the Las Vegas Grand Prix go ahead as planned? Some are openly doubting it. This is due to the heavy rainstorms the city experienced last week, which exposed its vulnerability. Streets were flooded, the rainwater had nowhere to go, and some casinos even had to deal with leaking ceilings.
Las Vegas may be a city that seems to make everything bigger, faster, and more beautiful, but water always brings a ‘reality check’. Heavy rainfall is an enemy they don’t quite know how to combat here.
Meanwhile, there’s cautious speculation in the paddock. But the GP won’t just be washed out. The highest chance of rain is during the second free practice, about 40 percent, according to the official FIA weather forecast. So, it’s not as bad as it seems.
So, it’s unlikely we’ll see a roulette in the rain, although you never know. After all, strange things are known to happen in Las Vegas.
