No ticket? No problem!
People unable to get a ticket to the Las Vegas Formula One Grand Prix found a clever loophole, turning escalators into moving grandstands.
Parts of Sin City were transformed for the epic race, which was held in Nevada with stars from around the world attending.
There was controversy after last year’s event, with concern over the impact on local businesses and the lack of accessibility due to high ticket prices.
One major criticism was the lack of accessibility for most fans to attend, with Clark County prohibiting stopping on pedestrian tunnels, with a $1,000 fine for those caught on the line.
Luckily, savvy F1 fans found a workaround; riding an escalator to catch a glimpse of the race, with one amused fan uploading a video to social media.
‘You’re not allowed to stop and watch the Las Vegas Formula One Grand Prix without a ticket and stopping in a pedestrian walking zone or on a bridge with a view will get you a ticket, a fine or worse trouble,’ user Jen, who goes by @vegasstarfish online, posted to X.
She shared locals and tourists have been utilizing the escalators at Spring Mountain and Las Vegas Blvd outside Fashion Show Mall, close to where the race takes place.
Jen explained that as long as people keep moving, security will leave them alone.
‘Not ideal for watching the entire F1 main event, but great if you want to get right next to the track for a minute for a quick picture,’ she shared.
Her video showed F1 enthusiasts going up and down nearby escalators, many filming the event, to avoid the fine for stopping on one of the prohibited walkways.
Another fan revealed his unique way of watching the event, posting to X, formerly known as Twitter, to share that eager fans could watch the Las Vegas GP via CCTV footage from the city.
‘F1 TV is too mainstream. I’m watching on the CCTV traffic cams,’ Chris Aurelio wrote.
Attached to the post was a CCTV screen grab of an F1 car out on the track.
Clark County began enforcement of a ‘pedestrian zone flow’ ordinance last week that prohibits people from ‘stopping, standing or engaging in an activity that causes another person to stop’ on pedestrian bridges and surrounding escalators and stairways.
Those caught disobeying the ordinance can result in a $1,000 fine or up to six months in jail.
The Vegas event is one of three American races on the Formula One schedule.
Events in Austin, serving as the American Grand Prix, and Miami have already taken place this year.
According to NBC, tickets for the race are going as cheap as $250 for single-day general admissions to as much as $12,500, depending on ticket packages.
Max Verstappen was hailed by many Formula One fans as the GOAT – meaning greatest of all time – after securing his fourth World Drivers’ Championship on Saturday night.
The 27-year-old finished fifth at the Las Vegas Strip Circuit but that was enough to move him 63 points clear of Lando Norris on the overall table with only 60 left to play for.
Norris finished sixth in Saturday’s race, which was won by George Russell ahead of Mercedes team-mate Lewis Hamilton.
