This was the third-largest percentage drop in viewership YoY this season after Brazil (41.6 per cent) and Saudi Arabia (39.6 per cent). It also means three of Formula One’s last six races have dropped below an average of one million viewers, after exceeding the figure for nine straight races.

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 half a billion dollars for the local economy and $77 million in tax revenue, outstripping all expectations.

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.