P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Max Verstappen was heavily critical of last season’s inaugural Las Vegas Grand Prix. Changes are being made to make him change his tune this year.
Las Vegas Grand Prix organisers plan to reduce the pre-race activities ahead of this year’s event after Max Verstappen was critical of the extravagant setup last season. The F1 event marked a historic moment with the sport as promoters for the first time, following a significant investment in constructing the circuit around the famous Strip. Verstappen expressed his frustration with the lavish promotional events, labeling the grand prix in Las Vegas as more show than sporting competition. Despite his initial criticism, Verstappen was heard singing ‘Viva Las Vegas’ after winning the race. Chief commercial officer Emily Prazer assured that drivers will not face such intense promotional pressure this year, acknowledging their feedback and the need to ease the workload to focus more on the race. The organisers believe the drivers were supportive overall but aim to strike a better balance between promotional activities and racing preparations for the upcoming Las Vegas Grand Prix.
