Max Verstappen believes that F1 is heading to Las Vegas in two weeks’ ‘for the show’, rather than for the love of racing. The reigning world champion made his position clear, claiming that he is opposed to the ‘spectacle first’ approach.
The drivers are currently at the Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace for the Brazilian Grand Prix, which rounds off a triple-header. However, there is still time to head back Stateside with the countdown standing at two weeks until the third visit to the US of the 2023 season.
F1 has already raced in Las Vegas twice before with the Caesars Palace Grand Prix playing host to the season finale of the 1981 and 1982 seasons, but with the sport’s popularity booming in the US, this event promises to take the series’ extravagance to the next level.
Discussing the prospect of F1’s return to Las Vegas, Verstappen stated: “First of all, I think we are there more for the show than the racing itself if you look at the layout of the track. But you know, I’m actually not that into it. I’m more like, I’ll go there and do my thing and be gone again.”
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The three-time champion was then asked how that differs from the current state of the Monaco Grand Prix, Verstappen replied: “Yes, but Monaco is also just history and the place itself. Everyone wants to have been to Monaco once. You can’t really compare.”
There was one more Vegas-related question for the Dutchman, who was asked whether or not the new event would allow the sport to capitalise on the Drive to Survive boom in the United States.
He replied: “It depends on which level. In terms of racing spectacle, maybe not. But in terms of potential partners, for the whole thing around it maybe. But of course, that’s something I’m not very much into.”
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This isn’t the first time this week that Verstappen has criticised the state of the sport. Ahead of the Brazilian GP, he took aim at the sprint race format, claiming: “We should just get rid of the sprint weekend and then everyone can just set up their cars normally. It wouldn’t have happened that we would have had a normal race weekend.”
The Dutchman has been strongly opposed to the sprint race format, insisting that it takes anticipation and drama away from the Grand Prix which should, in his eyes, be the main highlight of a race weekend.
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