The Las Vegas Grand Prix, focused on the Strip, has been generally considered a big success since it was established on the F1 calendar in 2023, but it is not quite the first iteration of the event.

In 1981 and 1982, a Caesars Palace Grand Prix was staged on a track built in the parking lot of the Caesars Palace hotel.

Neither the venue nor the circuit are fondly remembered, though it hosted championship deciders in both years.

In 1981, Williams’ Carlos Reutemann had a one-point lead over Brabham’s Nelson Piquet with Ligier’s Jacques Laffite also still in contention.

Frenchman Lafitte needed to finish first or second to have a chance, at a time when only the top six drivers scored points, but Argentine Reutemann looked well set when he qualified on pole.

However, he dropped back throughout the race, eventually finishing eighth, and was lapped by race winner and team-mate Alan Jones.

Brazilian Piquet struggled with heat exhaustion in the final stages but was able to come home fifth, giving him the two points he needed to overtake Reutemann, with Laffite in sixth.