Max Verstappen has labelled F1’s Las Vegas Grand Prix as “99 percent show and one percent sporting event” after Wednesday night’s opening ceremony.
F1 held its first race in Las Vegas since 1982, with a grand opening ceremony featuring all 20 drivers and music performances. However, three-time world champion Max Verstappen was unimpressed and felt the drivers looked like clowns during the presentation. Verstappen expressed his dislike for the pre-race event and stated that he prefers to focus on the performance aspect of racing rather than the showmanship. McLaren’s Lando Norris shared a similar sentiment, saying that F1 has become more of a show now compared to the past. Both drivers expressed their preference for simply driving and racing cars, rather than participating in extravagant events and shows. Verstappen also criticized the new street circuit in Las Vegas, stating that it lacks excitement due to the few corners and low grip. He mentioned that driving an F1 car is more enjoyable on circuits with high-speed corners, something that is lacking on the Las Vegas layout.
