Max Verstappen was critical of all the excesses that accompanied Formula 1’s return to Las Vegas this week. But the Dutchman ended up humming Elvis Presley’s famous “Viva Las Vegas” on the radio as he took first place in the lively town of Laster on Sunday evening.
Verstappen, who had already secured his third world championship title at the end of the season, achieved his 18th victory of the year at the wheel of his Red Bull, finishing ahead of the Ferrari of Monegasque Charles Leclerc, who held the top position at the start, and his teammate, the Mexican Sergio Perez.
The latter’s performance also secured Red Bull first and second place in the constructors’ championship, a first in the team’s history.
Photo Getty Images via AFP
For his part, Quebecer Lance Stroll made a brilliant comeback to finish fifth after having to settle for 19th in qualifying after being penalized five places for overtaking Spaniard Carlos Sainz (Ferrari), while also receiving a double yellow flag was raised.
Photo Getty Images via AFP
Incredible race
And just like the days leading up to the race, this first Grand Prix to be held on the famous Vegas Strip was incredible.
From the start, second-placed Verstappen dived into the first corner, braked late, overtook Leclerc and pushed him off the track, a maneuver that was later ruled illegal by the stewards and handed him a five-second penalty, which he did in his first pit stop.
“I tried my luck at the beginning […]. “We had a great race today,” Verstappen concluded.
Leclerc, hoping for his first win this year, took the lead again on the 16th lap (of 50).
Fernando Alonso drives in front of the Paris hotel. Photo Getty Images via AFP
But he finally gave in to the Dutchman on the 37th lap, while the lead change followed in a beautiful – and rare in modern Formula 1 – three-way battle with Perez.
“What a race! I had a lot of fun,” said Leclerc.
The Briton Lando Norris (McLaren) was the victim of a spectacular accident on the fourth lap, but was able to leave the track.
Manhole cover and tracking
Formula 1’s return to Las Vegas, celebrated with great fanfare, came under fire 41 years after two races held in the Caesars Palace parking lot in 1981 and 1982.
Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez celebrate with their team in the Red Bull paddock. Photo Getty Images via AFP
It started with an embarrassing day on Thursday, the start of testing, which was severely disrupted by… a manhole cover.
Around 35,000 spectators, who were deprived of a large part of the tests on Thursday, have also taken legal action against the GP organizers.
Liberty Media, the company that owns Formula 1, invested heavily in this Grand Prix, which required months of work and affected traffic on Las Vegas’ most popular artery.
“You do not understand”
During the week, Verstappen showed little enthusiasm for an event focused on show business.
“They don’t understand what we do on the track,” he said, also comparing the track to “the National League for interesting reasons.” [5e division du soccer anglais]» compared to the “Champions League” on the street circuit in Monaco.
Former skier Lindsey Vonn surrounded by Red Bull advisor Dr. Helmut Marko and team boss Christian Horner before the start of the race. Photo Getty Images via AFP
“To all those who have expressed so negatively about this weekend and said it was just a spectacle, I think Vegas has proven them wrong,” replied Briton Lewis Hamilton on Sunday, in front of his teammate at Mercedes Compatriot George Russell, came seventh.
Lots of stars…obviously
Among the stars present in Vegas, cameras caught Rihanna, footballers David Beckham and Zlatan Ibrahimovic, former American skier Lindsey Vonn, Oscar-winning actress Lupita Nyong’o and even Justin Bieber waving the flag in a checkerboard pattern.
Justin Bieber waved the checkered flag at the end of the race. Photo AFP
“Everyone criticized Las Vegas, but ultimately it was a great race,” said Ferrari boss Frédéric Vasseur.