Las Vegas GP circuit hit by flooding, but race not under threat

Part of the Las Vegas Grand Prix street circuit has been flooded, a little more than a month before Formula 1 arrives in the city. Online footage suggested that the whole track was under water, but current reports say the damage was much more limited.

Heavy rain from the remnants of Tropical Storm Rachel caused widespread flash flooding around Las Vegas, with Koval Lane among the roads affected. Koval Lane forms part of the 6.2-kilometre street circuit.

Footage circulating online showed deep standing water around streets used by the event. Those images were quickly shared on social media.

Claims of a submerged track look exaggerated

Claims that the entire circuit was submerged under around a meter of water appear exaggerated, and the worst of the flooding was concentrated around known drainage areas near the Strip.

Local broadcaster FOX5 reported that crews shut down roads like Koval Lane and Winnick Ave because of flooding on Sunday morning. Near that junction, FOX5 saw fences broken by the flash floods and debris in the storm channel.

The rain also set a record. According to KTNV, Harry Reid International Airport picked up 1.08 inches of rain, setting a new daily record. The previous record was 0.78 inches in 2012.

Roads reopened and organisers have time

The disruption was short-lived and crews cleaned the affected roads and reopened them later in the day, and that there is no indication of lasting damage to Grand Prix infrastructure and no suggestion that the race is threatened.

Construction for the event is already underway. The Grand Prix runs from November 19 to 21, so organisers have more than five weeks before Formula 1 arrives.

That gives the race plenty of time, and Las Vegas is set to be an important weekend for at least one driver. George Russell has said he will probably take his next engine penalty there. After finishing ninth in Singapore, the Mercedes driver said: "It’ll probably be later in the season now, to be honest. Maybe looking at Vegas."

However, it is likely that his teammate, Kimi Antonelli, will have already wrapped up the title by then, with the odds looking likely that the Italian will clinch his maiden title in Mexico City.