Challenging Temperatures at Las Vegas Grand Prix Could Spell Red Flags in Formula 1

In a recent discussion, Sky Sports F1 pundit Karun Chandhok anticipates multiple red flags at the Las Vegas Grand Prix due to challenging temperatures. The upcoming race is expected to be one of the coldest in Formula 1 history, presenting unique difficulties for drivers and teams.

The Las Vegas Grand Prix, set to take place on an entirely new street track, is causing a stir not just for its novelty but also for the exceptional low temperatures expected during the event. Karun Chandhok, speaking on the Sky F1 Podcast, shared his excitement about the race but warned about the “extra real curve” that the temperature presents. He anticipates that the combination of high speeds and cold temperatures could lead to challenging situations, especially when braking at the end of long straights.

Despite being located in a desert, the Las Vegas Grand Prix will be held in the evening, when temperatures are expected to drop significantly. This unusual setting raises safety concerns, as cold tracks can affect the performance of both tires and brakes.

“I think coming to a new track is always exciting.

“You know there are always unknowns, we don’t know what the track surface is going to be like, what the kerbs are going to be like. But around here I think there’s an extra real curve for everybody, which is the temperature.

“There are parts where you’re going to get top speeds just shy of Monza, so even faster than we have at Spa. Very, very high speeds. There’s a section which is about 1.9km which is taken at full throttle, going over 200mph, 350kmh and there’s a lot of cold air going onto the brakes.

“When the drivers get to the end of that straight and hit the brakes, you have cold brakes, cold tyres, that’s going to be really challenging. I can see a few red flags coming up in qualifying and in the race.”