F1 knew it couldn’t lean on quite the same intrigue for its second visit to Las Vegas. It also couldn’t realistically expect to repeat the money-spinning success of year one, which generated $1.5 billion dollars for the local economy and $77 million in tax revenue, outstripping all expectations.

Formula One drivers said the Las Vegas Grand Prix is finding its footing after its first year struggles and said they look forward to returning to Sin City for the flashy night race along the Las Vegas Strip.

Mercedes star George Russell emerged victorious as the winner of the 2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix, and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen clinched his fourth straight drivers’ championship by finishing fifth, one place ahead of Lando Norris, who’s in second place overall in the drivers’ standings.

While experts predict this year’s race will pull in slightly less than the $500 million or so in revenue for Formula 1 and the $1.5 billion in Las Vegas economic impact achieved in last year’s race, the contest and its weeklong festivities will still be a boon for all those involved.

Four days of racing mayhem and adventures gave me a crash course into the world of Formula 1, and I would do it all again in a heartbeat

Follow live updates from the Qatar Grand Prix weekend as McLaren, Ferrari and Red Bull fight for the 2024 constructors’ championship.