LAS VEGAS (KSNV) — While Formula 1 drivers take to the track on Friday evenings for qualifying runs, the average driver navigating in and around Las Vegas during race week finds some of them stuck in gridlock.

Several tourists and locals say many of the road closures and detours caused by the return of Formula 1 have been difficult to get around, but some experiencing the return of the F1 Grand Prix say that while there has been some congestion, this is not the case. t compared to the opening event last year.

“I think this year has been a little bit better than last year. I think they learned a little bit more the second time around, and planned a little bit better,” said Abraham Gomez, a Las Vegas resident.

Others say that while they can navigate traffic jams just fine, some say they sympathize with drivers and workers trying to navigate from point A to point B.

“It hasn’t really affected me, it’s affected my business and so I’m in the office and I think that’s great because that’s good for business, good for the city, but a lot of drivers get stuck in traffic and they drive down the strip and then the road gets closed because there’s a big crane pulling something out of F1, so it’s frustrating for them,” said Paul Scally.

Some commuters heard about these frustrations and said they decided to play it safe and avoid some of the headaches caused by impatient drivers trying to navigate the series of road closures and detours.

“I had read online that the streets would close around 2 p.m. so we timed it so that we would be here around 1 a.m. as they started closing everything down and then we noticed kind of a bunch of cops starting to close everything down, ” said Tourist, Emmanuel Trujillo.

While some may have avoided these traffic problems, video footage captured during evening traffic near Flamingo Road, just east of the Las Vegas strip, shows the traffic jams many are calling a nightmare to navigate.

“I have a good friend of mine, just to come home, she lives in Henderson. It will take at least 45-50 minutes, as opposed to 30 minutes with traffic and all. So she says it’s a nightmare,” Gomez added.

Despite growing traffic congestion ahead of race day, many who have already navigated traffic offer some helpful tips for commuters.

“If you come to the race, come early. If you just want to enjoy Vegas, come early,” Scally said.

“Be patient number one and if you’re in the area, check out those back streets. I use Waze and obviously Google Maps too, just trying to get around it, but sometimes, especially here right now, it’s just going to be busy for the next few days regardless of the strip, I guess,” Gomez said.

To stay informed of F1 road closures and diversions, people can text F1LV to 31996.