The Las Vegas Grand Prix is breaking from the usual Formula 1 schedule and of the typical Friday-to-Sunday format, this race runs from Thursday to Saturday, with the main event on Saturday night.

The reason for this change is the time difference as Las Vegas is eight hours behind the UK and nine hours behind most of central Europe. If the race stayed on Sunday night, it would air early Monday morning in Europe, when most people are busy with work.  

By moving the race to Saturday night, F1 makes it easier for fans in Europe to watch. A night race in Las Vegas means it airs on Sunday morning in Europe, which is a much more convenient time.

Hosting the race earlier in the day could also work, but Las Vegas was always planned as a night race. The city’s famous Strip, lit up at night, is part of the show, and racing during the day wouldn’t have the same impact. 

The decision reflects F1's broader strategy to balance its growing American audience with its traditionally strong European fan base as even though the sport is gaining popularity in the U.S., Europe remains its biggest market.

Therefore, a Saturday night race in Las Vegas is a good compromise, allowing fans in both regions to tune in without major problems.

This is not the first time the F1 schedule has been adjusted. Earlier this year, races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia were moved to fit around Ramadan. However, for Las Vegas, the schedule change is about making the race a global spectacle while keeping fans from all time zones happy.