16 November 2023 , 10:54
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Lewis Hamilton demanded rival Max Verstappen stop "complaining" after the Dutchman dubbed the Las Vegas Grand Prix a "one percent sporting event".
Festivities in the Nevadan city kicked off on Wednesday night with a glamorous opening ceremony. The 30-minute show brought musical performances from John Legend and Kylie Minogue, a drone show and a fireworks ceremony before all 20 drivers were presented to the crowd.
It fit in with the glitz and glamour of this event, into which Formula 1 has sunk a lot of cash. But champion Verstappen feels the race itself has been turned into a sideshow by all the hype.
"[It's] 99 percent show and one percent sporting event," he told reporters after the ceremony. "For me, you can all skip these things. It's not about the singer, it's just standing up there, you look like a clown.
"Not a lot of emotions, to be honest. I just like to always focus on the performance side of things. I don't like all the things around it, anyway. I know, of course, in some places, they are part of it, but let's say it's not in my interest.
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" I'm looking forward to trying to do the best I can, but I'm not looking forward to [the show]. It's also not my aim that it makes a massive difference, but when you ask me a question and I feel like I want to answer it, I'll answer it in an honest way."
Verstappen's view comes as no surprise and is consistent with his general preference to get on with his racing and avoid as many of the distracting elements that come with his job as possible. And it was also no shock to hear Hamilton sound more supportive of the whole event, even if he did admit the track itself will never be able to hold a candle to his home venue.
"I hear there's a lot of people complaining about the direction that Stefano [Domenicali, F1 chief executive] and Liberty have been going, but I think they've been doing an amazing job," declared the seven-time world champion.
"It’s just such a big country. I think to really tap into the market here and really captivate the audience here, I think we needed to have at least two races, the one wasn't enough. This is one of the most iconic and unique cities that they have here and the lights, the show, it is a big show, for sure.
"It's never going to be like Silverstone, but maybe over time, the people in this community here will grow to love the sport, just as we've had the privilege of growing up and experiencing. Maybe the track will be good, maybe it will be bad. It was so-so on the sim. It's definitely not Silverstone, but I think don't knock it until you try it."