The Las Vegas Grand Prix delivered "one of the best races of the F1 season" on Saturday. Max Verstappen continued his F1 dominance with his 18th win of the season in front of 315,000 fans at the Las Vegas Street Circuit, which was "illuminated by the neon lights of Las Vegas Boulevard with the iconic Strip serving as the backdrop." The race also "delivered on all the glamour it promised," as actors, athletes, musicians and other celebrities "filled the pit building, and a red carpet was placed along the southern entrance." However, it was “far from a perfect race weekend" (LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, 11/19).
The “much-maligned” Las Vegas GP “crossed the finish line in style” on Saturday. On a "crisp and clear Nevada night," even the race's biggest critic -- Verstappen -- “had to admit that it was a success.” Verstappen raised eyebrows last week when he was "critical of the spectacle surrounding the race and even the crowds themselves." But he "pulled a U-turn after Saturday’s triumph." Verstappen while standing in the winner’s circle as the Bellagio fountains danced in the background said, “A great crowd. I hope everyone enjoyed it, we definitely did. Excited to come back here next year and try to do something similar” (REUTERS, 11/19).
Driver Charles Leclerc said that the first Las Vegas GP is "exactly what Formula One needed from its glitzy new event" after it attracted criticism earlier in the week. Leclerc: "I really enjoyed it. I think we needed it. Of course, the weekend didn't start the way it had to start, but I'm so happy that it ended that way. It's such an incredible sport. I think today, there was no better race than our first race in Vegas” (ESPN.com, 11/19). Driver Lewis Hamilton said, “I really wasn't expecting the track to be so great but the more and more laps you did I just really loved racing it. Lots of great overtaking opportunities and I think for all those who were so negative about the weekend, saying it was all about show blah blah blah, I think Vegas proved them wrong” (SKY SPORTS, 11/19).
The Sphere was one of the Las Vegas landmarks that featured on the Las Vegas Grand Prix circuitGetty Images
