Lewis Hamilton Doubters Silenced by Las Vegas Grand Prix Thriller
Max Verstappen, the Red Bull Racing driver, was crowned the 2023 Formula 1 World Champion in a dramatic season-ending race. The event at the Las Vegas Strip, often considered monotonous and disappointing in recent Formula 1 history, proved to be a far cry from predictions, bursting with action and unpredictability.
The race saw numerous lead changes and unprecedented overtaking maneuvers, with the first three place finishers crossing the line just 2.2 seconds apart.
At the beginning of the weekend, the Las Vegas Grand Prix appeared to be heading towards disaster. Thursday training was cut short due to a loose drain cover, less than ten minutes into the session. Previously, Verstappen had expressed his harsh criticism of the event and its opening ceremony, stating that the race was "99% performance and 1% sport."
Despite initial setbacks, Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton praised the race enthusiastically, calling it "fantastic" to participate in.
"I'm not sure what kind of spectacle this is for people, but there were plenty of overtaking maneuvers," Hamilton said to Sky Sports. "It's like Baku - but better. I didn't expect the track to be this good, but the more laps, the more enjoyable the car becomes."
"There were lots of great overtaking opportunities and I think this event has proven wrong those that criticized it and said it was just about show and such things."
Verstappen even took to the podium to sing Elvis Presley's "Viva Las Vegas" in an Elvis-style suit.
The Formula 1 series made its return to Las Vegas for the first time in over four decades, bringing a star-studded event filled with notable personalities.
Brad Pitt, Rihanna, David Beckham, Shaquille O'Neal, and Usain Bolt were among the attendees, as well as musicians J. Balvin, Kylie Minogue, and Tisto. Music entertainment was provided throughout the weekend.
Reactions to the event were mixed, but a positive sentiment still pervaded Las Vegas. BBC-F1 Chief Reporter Andrew Benson described the race as "a thrilling spectacle."
"On one side, you have the Las Vegas Strip, where cars fly at 200 miles per hour," Benson wrote. "Nearby is the Paris Hotel, a fake Eiffel Tower, and the Montgolfier Balloon in Venetian Hotel. Look over, and you can see the Fountains, Caesars Palace, and other popular landmarks."
"Three-day tickets cost $11,247 USD. Yet, as jaw-dropping an experience – for F1 fans, wider sports fans, or those who have never seen it before – the view is even comparable to Monaco's harbor in the Grand Prix calendar."
"The biggest positive … is the sport itself," Tom Cary, the Daily Telegraph's leading sports reporter, said. "There was certainly no shortage of action."
However, Cary noted a series of mistakes, some of which may have affected even the drivers' perception of the event.
Ticket prices and early road closures led to empty seats on the stands, and fans were sent home late at night after only seeing a few minutes of action on Thursday due to a storm drain cover issue.
Formula 1 President Stefano Domenicali and Las Vegas Grand Prix President Renee Wilm released a joint statement, stating, "That's what happened, and we hope people understand." According to Reuters, Formula 1 offers a refund only in the form of $200 gift cards to attendees, failing to address their concerns.
Further Reading:
Lewis Hamilton declared after the Las Vegas Grand Prix that the criticisms of the event were unfounded and that the race was an unexpected surprise that convinced the skeptics. Hamilton claimed that the feeling of high-stakes competition and performance was not overshadowed by spectacle.
Supporters and critics of motor sports initially thought that the Las Vegas Street Race would resemble a show, but the race authorities and organizing committees aimed to create an enthralling series of races. There were plenty of overtaking opportunities, and the tension and close competition between the drivers were far greater than anticipated.
Sources:
The enrichment data provides insight into the criticisms aimed at the Las Vegas Grand Prix, primarily by local residents and businesses. These included concerns about revenue loss, earlier road closures, lack of dialogue, and traffic and road closure issues. F1 responded by adjusting the start time and sharing event details but has not fully addressed the concerns of local stakeholders. Hamilton's statement refers to the excitement of the race and its performance element, but it does not directly address the specific criticisms against the Las Vegas Grand Prix.
