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.

A new F1 team on the horizon; Brad Pitt's hectic filming schedule; driver's late-night demands; and why the writing may be on the wall for Sergio Perez. Chris Medland looks back on the action in a bus