Verstappen critical of F1’s Las Vegas show
Max Verstappen has expressed his disappointment with the show element of the inaugural F1 Las Vegas event, saying it is not in his interest.
The Red Bull driver made his views clear after being introduced to the crowd at the event, which included a drone show and musical performances. Verstappen, who also opted to miss a later VIP event at the Wynn’s hotel complex, made it clear that he is not enjoying the Las Vegas experience thus far.
“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,” Verstappen said when asked about the ceremony. “Not a lot of emotions, to be honest. I just like to always focus on the performance side of things.”
Verstappen acknowledged that Liberty Media is keen to make an impact in Las Vegas and ‘fully understood’ its desire to maximize the show element, but also expressed his disinterest in the layout of the Las Vegas circuit.
“I don’t think it’s that exciting,” he said. “But naturally already for me a street circuit is not very exciting, especially with these new cars. They’re just too heavy. And especially also when you have low grip, that doesn’t help.”
He added: “An F1 car is a lot more fun with a lot of high-speed corners.”
Pressed on the value of his opinion to F1 and Liberty, Verstappen downplayed the potential impact, but reaffirmed his commitment to voicing his honest opinions.
It remains to be seen how Verstappen’s comments will be received by F1 and Liberty Media, but the Dutch driver has made it clear that he is primarily focused on the sporting aspect of the event.