STWF Sports|Nov. 19, 2025 – After a relatively calm 2024 edition, the Las Vegas Grand Prix is once again bracing for disruption — this time not from loose drain covers or emergency track repairs, but from a major weather alert issued just days before Formula 1 returns to the Strip.
The third running of the modern Vegas race, which features an unusual Thursday-to-Saturday schedule, arrives with a significant flood warning from the National Weather Service. Heavy rainfall is expected to hit the city midweek, raising concerns about potential logistical issues as drivers and team personnel make their way through the sport’s most extravagant venue.
Media day, moved up to Wednesday due to the compressed weekend, could face the brunt of the storm. Drivers, team principals, and engineers will be navigating a wet Las Vegas Boulevard as they attend interviews and sponsor appearances across the city’s iconic hotels and casinos.
But for fans hoping the weather won’t derail the on-track action, the early signs are reassuring.
Race Weekend Expected to Clear Just in Time
Despite the warning, the likelihood of rain affecting actual running appears low. Forecasts show a 30% chance of precipitation across the three-day event, but Thursday’s drizzle is expected to give way to clear conditions by Friday’s qualifying session.
By Saturday night’s race, skies are projected to be cloud-free — allowing the championship battle to proceed without atmospheric interference.
The climatic stability will be crucial as Lando Norris heads into the weekend with a firm grip on the standings. Back-to-back victories in Mexico and Brazil have placed the McLaren star 24 points ahead of teammate Oscar Piastri and 49 clear of four-time champion Max Verstappen.
Though Norris cannot mathematically clinch his first world championship in Las Vegas, he can eliminate Verstappen from contention if he outscores him by at least nine points.
Cold Temperatures Could Shape the Competitive Order
While the rain may spare the race, cold temperatures will undoubtedly play a factor. Las Vegas hosts the coldest conditions on the F1 calendar, with average nighttime temperatures hovering around 11°C (52°F).
To help teams cope, organizers have moved all sessions forward by two hours, meaning qualifying and the race will begin at 8pm local time (5am GMT). Even then, grip levels are expected to be low — a notorious issue last season.
The cool conditions could deal a blow to McLaren, whose car historically performs at its peak in hotter climates. In contrast, Mercedes, struggling for much of the season, tends to come alive in cooler air.
George Russell, who dominated last year’s Vegas Grand Prix, is quietly confident heading into the weekend.
“I expect us to be strong,” Russell said. “I’ll be very surprised if we’re as strong as we were last year, but we hope so.”
With the W16 showing improved stability in low temperatures and minimal tyre overheating — the exact combination Las Vegas demands — Mercedes may emerge as the dark horse. Kimi Antonelli’s impressive runner-up finish in a cold São Paulo only bolsters their optimism.
Norris Chasing Redemption in Sin City
Norris, for all his brilliance in 2024, has not enjoyed past trips to Vegas. He finished sixth in the inaugural 2023 edition and retired last year after a heavy crash. Piastri, meanwhile, has finished ahead of his teammate in both previous Vegas races.
With the title within reach but not yet secure, Norris enters the weekend knowing he must manage both risk and expectation — a tricky balance on a street circuit notorious for unpredictable grip levels and dramatic racing.
A Crucial Night in the Neon Desert
With the rain expected to clear, the stage is set for yet another high-stakes chapter in the 2025 Formula 1 season. Whether the weather cooperates fully or creates early-week headaches, the Las Vegas Grand Prix promises to be a defining moment in the title fight.
The neon skyline awaits. The championship remains alive. And Sin City is ready to roll the dice once again.
