CAPTURING THE SPEED AND CULTURE OF THE TRACK

LAS VEGAS STRIP CIRCUIT, NEVADA · 20–22 NOVEMBER 2025

Under the Neon Lights: My Weekend Photographing Formula 1 in Las Vegas

There's probably nowhere in the world quite like Las Vegas to photograph Formula 1. A city already famous for its lights, noise and excess becomes even more extraordinary when some of the fastest racing cars in the world take over its streets.

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For the 2025 Las Vegas Grand Prix, I was staying at the Horseshoe Las Vegas, roughly a kilometre from my grandstand in the Lewis Hamilton West Harmon Zone. Being able to walk from my hotel straight into the atmosphere of a Formula 1 weekend was an experience in itself.

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My position overlooked the Harmon Straight, where drivers approached the final corner before accelerating towards the start-finish line. It provided a fantastic opportunity to photograph cars at speed against the illuminated backdrop of the city.

What immediately interested me about Las Vegas was how different the photographic environment was compared with a traditional daytime race. Everything happens under artificial lighting, with neon signs, floodlights, dark skies and reflective surfaces creating an unusual combination of colours and contrasts.

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I'm particularly drawn to motorsport photographs that communicate a sense of speed rather than simply freezing a car in the frame. Las Vegas was an opportunity to experiment with that approach, using slower shutter speeds and the surrounding lights to emphasise movement.

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The weather made the weekend even more interesting. Temperatures dropped significantly after sunset, while rain transformed Friday night's qualifying into a challenging session on the slippery street circuit. Lando Norris handled the conditions brilliantly, securing pole position ahead of Max Verstappen and Carlos Sainz. Lewis Hamilton, meanwhile, endured a difficult session, qualifying last.

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By Saturday evening, conditions had improved. The race took place under dry but cool skies, with Verstappen seizing the advantage after Norris ran wide at the opening corner.

From there, the Red Bull driver controlled proceedings, eventually taking a commanding victory on the streets of Las Vegas. But the biggest story came after the race, when both Norris and Oscar Piastri were disqualified for excessive skid block wear on their McLarens.

The decision dramatically changed the final classification, promoting George Russell to second and Kimi Antonelli to third. Hamilton also recovered from his difficult qualifying performance to finish eighth.

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For me, the weekend was a reminder that motorsport photography isn't simply about capturing the action on the circuit. It's about documenting the environment in which that action takes place.In Las Vegas, the city itself becomes part of the story. The illuminated hotels, changing conditions and theatrical atmosphere give the photographs a sense of place that is instantly recognisable.

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Walking back towards the Horseshoe after a night at the circuit, I was reminded of why I enjoy photographing motorsport so much. Every venue presents a different challenge, and every race weekend offers something unexpected.

Las Vegas was an opportunity to push my night photography further and capture Formula 1 in one of the most visually distinctive settings on the calendar.

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It's certainly a circuit I'd love to photograph again, particularly from a new perspective.