Try a pit stop with Mercedes mechanics, catch a Carlos Sainz appearance and find live music that doesn’t require another ticket. Some of the best reasons to explore Las Vegas during race week are outside the grandstands.
The race might be your reason for coming, but it doesn’t have to fill the entire trip. Teams are setting up places where fans can get closer to the cars, test their reactions and hear from the people they normally watch through a screen.
Our Austin fan-experience guide followed the same idea: make room for the city around the Grand Prix. These five stops give Vegas race week something extra.
All times below are local Las Vegas time.
1. Mercedes lets you try the pit stop
Watching a pit crew work is one thing. Picking up the equipment yourself gives you a different appreciation of the job.
The Mercedes Fan Hub brings a pit-stop challenge to Bellagio Drive, using a real F1 car with real F1 mechanics. That’s the standout attraction, alongside simulators, a 2026 show car, historic team memorabilia and personalized driver cards.
There’s also an interactive pit wall, live links to the track and watch-alongs for Grand Prix sessions. You can spend time doing something, rather than simply photographing a car and moving on.
Where: Bellagio Drive.
When: November 18–21. Wednesday noon–8:30 p.m.; Thursday through Saturday 2–10 p.m.
Entry: Free. Check the official Mercedes Fan Hub guide for visitor information.
2. Williams brings Sainz, simulators and a reason to plan ahead
Williams’ Fan Zone at New York-New York has confirmed appearances from Carlos Sainz and team principal James Vowles. The full appearance schedule has not yet been announced, so timing your visit matters if either is your main reason for going.
The rest of the attraction includes an FW48 show car, simulators featuring the Vegas circuit, a reaction challenge and a digital treasure hunt.
It also opens earlier in the week than the Mercedes Hub, making it a useful first stop for fans arriving before the race-week crowds build.
Where: Brooklyn Bridge at New York-New York Hotel & Casino.
When: November 16–21, 11 a.m.–7 p.m.
Entry: Free, with registration through the Williams app. Visit the Williams Fan Zone page for registration details and appearance updates.
3. Haas offers a stop that fits almost any schedule
The Cosmopolitan is hosting a TGR Haas F1 Team car and memorabilia display from November 16–22. Located on Level 2 of the Chelsea Tower, it will be accessible around the clock.
That makes it an easy option when a tightly scheduled fan event doesn’t fit your day.
A team meet-and-greet is also planned for Wednesday, November 18, with limited capacity and entry on a first-come basis. The time and participating team members are still to be announced. Check the Cosmopolitan’s event information before building your plans around it.
4. Bellagio has another reason to step inside
If you’re already visiting the Mercedes Hub, leave time for Bellagio’s Conservatory.
Its holiday display, “Postcards From Christmas,” opens November 14, just ahead of race week. The installation includes a train winding through illuminated evergreens, a decorated tree and a fireside family scene.
The Conservatory is free to visit, and the holiday display runs through January 2. It’s an easy change of pace between simulators, queues and the evening’s track action.
5. Downtown keeps the weekend going after the race
The Neon City Festival runs November 20–22 around Fremont Street Experience and the Downtown Las Vegas Events Center, with free admission and no ticket required.
The lineup includes Kaskade, Diplo, Subtronics, The Fray and Three 6 Mafia, alongside art and food vendors. Check the festival’s official event page to plan around the acts you want to see.
For fans staying after Saturday’s Grand Prix, Sunday is the useful extra day: a chance to explore downtown without fitting everything around an F1 session. This is a separate outing from the Strip fan hubs, so give it its own space in your plans.
You don’t need to squeeze in every stop. Pick the team experience you most want to try, check any appearance times and leave room to enjoy the city. The best race-week memory might come before you ever reach your seat.
