F1 looking at circuit around Mandalay Bay?

Start of the 1982 Las Vegas GP in the Caesars Palace Parking Lot

AR1 is hearing that the location for the proposed Las Vegas Formula One race is a street circuit at the south end of The Strip circling the Mandalay Bay resort. That part of town would put the race under Clark County jurisdiction and not the jurisdiction of the City of Las Vegas.

Honestly, we'll believe a Grand Prix around Mandalay Bay, or anywhere in Las Vegas for that matter, when we see it. Vegas is a fabulous destination town, but casinos make money with tourists inside not outside. While AR1 could not obtain a proposed layout, one insider told us that any sort of circuit design in that area of The Strip would amount to "Caesars 2." This in reference of course to the much-maligned Caesar's Palace Grand Prix parking lot circuit which played host to Formula 1 in 1981 and 1982 then CART in 1983 and 1984.

As for what exactly is going on, we're not totally sure. But If we had to venture a guess, we'd say F1 Supremo Bernie Ecclestone is up to his old tricks. Ecclestone is a master negotiator, and he rarely goes to the bargaining table without the person on the other side knowing he has multiple options to choose from. Is he trying here to put some pressure on the City of Long Beach to speed up negotiations for F1 to return there? Is he trying to make sure Circuit of the Americas and Austin, Texas don't think they've secured a place on the calendar, despite three successful Grand Prix since F1's return to the states in 2012?

We don't know. But we do know, Ecclestone is a master at creating leverage, and maximizing economic return. And we wouldn't for a second doubt, his hands are all over whatever is going on in Las Vegas.

AR1 Staff Report