‘We had a bit of a party’: Alan Jones recalls Formula One success in Vegas

On the eve of Sunday's Las Vegas Grand Prix, the 1980 world champion looks back on a footnote in history 42 years ago

Finally then, Formula One has made it to the Strip with the Las Vegas Grand Prix being held in the early hours of Sunday morning 41 years on from the sport's last visit to the city when it did not get further than the car park at Caesars Palace. Those races in 1981 and 1982 are but a footnote in F1 history, no trace of the circuit remains, but one driver at least still has fond memories.

The meetings in the 80s could not stand in greater contrast to the all-singing, all-dancing extravaganza F1 has put on through the heart of the city this weekend, including an enormous straight down Las Vegas Boulevard, the Strip, with all the landmarks, the Bellagio fountains, Caesars, the Venetian, Paris, that provide the backdrop F1 wanted for their showcase event.