Memorable F1 moments from the Las Vegas Grand Prix

Despite only making its Formula One bow in 2023, the Las Vegas Grand Prix has had its fair share of memorable F1 moments, and we're looking through the very best of them.

From a fiery Lando Norris crash to yet another Max Verstappen triumph, the Las Vegas GP has already become accustomed to drama on the F1 circuit, and will continue to hit the headlines until at least 2027 after a contract renewal.

Below, Ladbrokes looks through some of the most memorable F1 moments from the Las Vegas Grand Prix - so read on!

After all the buzz in the build up to Las Vegas' first-ever Grand Prix, the opening Practice session could hardly have got off to a worse start, with a red flag ending the session after just eight minutes when Carlos Sainz drove over a manhole cover - which caused significant damage to his power unit, chassis, and even his seat.

After extensive work to the car, hours of waiting, and all the fans being told to go home, FP1 finally resumed with Sainz getting round seventh-fastest - but the drama left a bitter taste. The incident resulted in Sainz getting a rather harsh 10-place grid penalty, and despite putting in a strong performance to finish sixth, his weekend was ultimately ruined by the loose manhole cover.

The Las Vegas Grand Prix's inaugural race was always going to hit the headlines - but not many people would have quite guessed the bizarre details.

Into the actual race at the 2023 Las Vegas Grand Prix, and Lando Norris became the first retiree on the famous Strip after spinning out and smashing into the wall. An eye-catching crash ending his race after just three laps, with the young Brit causing sparks to fly on Turn 12.

Norris lost the back of his car heading into the corner and found himself helplessly sliding down the track, grinding against the wall and leaving behind a huge trail of sparks. The McLaren eventually came to a stop in the barriers within the run-off section - but not before he almost clipped his teammate as he veered.

The incident instantly brought out the safety car, and called a stop to Lando Norris' weekend before the action had even really begun.

Fans witnessed a second big crash in as many years at the Las Vegas Strip Circuit in 2024, with Williams driver Franco Colapinto smashing out of Qualifying. The young Brazilian misjudged the corner at Turn 16 and clipped the concrete wall, causing him to head straight into the barrier opposite and ending his Q2 in dramatic fashion.

The trail of debris saw Q3 suffer from a significant delay, and despite Williams managing to repair the car in time for Sunday's race, Colapinto was forced to start from the pit lane after the car was modified under Parc Ferme conditions. A decent run saw him finish 14th in the end, but his chance for points ultimately ended with that simple error in judgement in Q2.

It compounded a difficult period for Williams, with teammate Alex Albon having to retire early in Vegas with a radiator issue.

Ending on a high note, the Las Vegas Grand Prix has also brought us one of Max Verstappen's most memorable F1 moments, with the Dutchman winning his fourth consecutive World Championship title in 2024. The serial winner only managed to come home in fifth, as Mercedes dominated the race with a one-two, but it was enough for Verstappen to join Sebastian Vettel and Alain Prost on four world titles.

After such an easy ride to the title in 2023, Verstappen was made to work a bit harder the following year, but Norris' disappointing sixth-place finish at the Las Vegas Strip meant Red Bull's main man claimed his fourth World Championship in a row - forcing Norris to settle for second.

As was so fitting for the destination, the 2024 Las Vegas GP ended in celebration, and as a race that falls towards the end of the season, we're sure to see more unforgettable scenes in the years to come.

That wraps up our look at the most memorable F1 moments from the Las Vegas Grand Prix. Discover more Formula One content with Ladbrokes, from season predictions and a look at F1 records, to a complete F1 schedule and our unique 'memorable F1 moments' series.

View the latest Formula One odds.

All odds and markets correct as of date of publication.