What it’s really like to experience an F1 race in Las Vegas for the first time

Eight people, four late nights and early mornings, and one world championship.

That is a succinct summary of my Las Vegas Formula 1 experience courtesy of eBay Motors. It’s never an easy feat to put a weekend like this into words but my love for writing and contractual obligations say that I must try. If great authors of yore could create epics and ballads of otherworldly battles and adventures, surely I can manage a 600-word article about fast vroom vroom cars.

Related: The best Xbox sim racing setups for every budget

I'm not an F1 expert, but now I'm considering it

I should start by mentioning that my knowledge of racing is minute at best. I experienced my first track day just a few months ago so it should come as no surprise to learn that F1 was not unlike the deep end of a pool; a land full of unknowns that I had never ventured into.

Everything changed one Wednesday morning when an unexpected email from my editor announced our invitation to the Formula 1 World Championship in Las Vegas. Always eager to embrace new experiences—and with the word "free" catching my attention like a hound on a fox—it took me no time at all to say yes.

Things happen quickly in Vegas, especially with F1 in town

The flight was swift and painless, a drastic change from the 20-hour flights to Romania I was accustomed to. The couple sitting next to me on the plane noted my Ferrari backpack and asked if I was there for the race. I did my best to reply without giving off newbie vibes.

Upon arrival, I was swept into a whirlwind of races, opulence, endless feasts, and equally welcoming bars. Our Champions Club accommodations offered a prime view of Turn 3, framed by the radiant Las Vegas skyline. If you listened closely you could almost hear the faint echoes of emptying wallets and dashed hopes beneath the roar of the engines.

Among the Louis bags and Moschino dresses, the atmosphere was electric. Regardless of net worth, everyone was there to rally behind their favorite team, driver, or cocktail. The excitement was palpable and it was easy to tell the fan favorites based on the cheers that would slice through the air from all corners of the track.

Related: Ford Ranger gets new variants, but not in the United States

Nothing could prepare me for the glory of the Paddock Club

Day two began with my introduction to the Paddock Club, an illustrious destination at the track with a price of admission that would eclipse some people’s bank accounts. It was the ultimate gathering of who’s who with celebrities like Terry Crews, Sylvester Stallone, and even Jared Leto strolling between mini golf courses and TV cameras. It was also the closest you could get to the drivers without being on their team since, as the name might allude to, members of the Paddock Club were mere feet away from the teams’ garages. Yet another reason to become a millionaire.

Race day was upon us

The third day was race day and the crowds made it clear. The cheering grew even more intense, and the stands were filled to capacity. I imagine this is where the phrase “packed like sardines” comes in handy. This is also when the driving really took a turn (no pun intended).

Over the past two days, the practice and qualifying sessions had been relatively relaxed, with the drivers being cautious to not wreck their cars before the race (sorry Gasly). Now, however, the gloves were off, but only metaphorically. For the first few laps, the cars were nearly bumper to bumper, and the air was thick with the intoxicating scent of burning rubber and race fuel. It was the automotive equivalent of a double shot of espresso, a sensory rush that kept your heart racing and had you perched on the edge of your seat.

Each pass ignited intense emotions from the crowd, as the drivers gradually pulled away from one another, solidifying their positions on the grid. From 10 p.m. to midnight, the emotional highs and lows mirrored a Six Flags rollercoaster until finally, as the new day broke, George Russell claimed victory, and Max Verstappen secured his fourth world championship. It wasn’t until then that I remembered to breathe and blink, slowly grounding myself back in reality.

As quickly as it began, the Las Vegas F1 Weekend was over

It was a bittersweet walk back to the hotel, bobbing and weaving our way through the crowds and the many taxi drivers ready to carve their own paths through The Strip. We all rendezvoused at the eBay Plymouth Barracuda, our shiny meeting spot throughout the weekend and one of the things that brought us all here. Instagram accounts were exchanged, hugs were given, and we all headed to our rooms one by one.

And thus eight people, after four late nights and early mornings, and one world champion crowned, returned to their daily routine once more. The roars of the engines faded, the sun dipped beneath the clouds, and the curtain fell on the Las Vegas F1 weekend.

_{Disclosure: Flights, hotel, and food were paid for by eBay Motors}

Related: Fascinating military innovations powering your car’s best features