F1 2023 Las Vegas GP Pre-Race Thread

The glass is always half empty for you, isn't it ?

 

Not at all. I'm very optimistic about Andretti. But I think that Vegas and F1 is a disastrous marriage. And there won't even be a honeymoon.

 

I saw the times for practice, quali and gp. I thought it was a joke at first... wtf were they thinking?

 

Rumor here in Vegas is this is quite possibly the first and last.

 

Maybe Lando can take-out Max in the first turn and give enough points to mid-fielders to shake up the WDC 3-4-5.

 

But he has found the second worst community on fchat ..... if you own a Ferrari you will be trolled by certain "members" of the LH fanbois club

 

Guys, please, Vegas isn't going anywhere, get used to it. Liberty Media sunk hundreds of millions of dollars into this, it's on the calendar for 2024, it will be a fine race, the pricing will normalize over time.

Maybe it will shift on the calendar and maybe they will change the start times in 2024. But rumors of the death of Vegas F1 are greatly exaggerated.

 

Times are a bummer....I'll be there...anyone got a puppy upper I can get? Normally past my bedtime...by a few hours but.....costing so much...I'll get right with it I expect.....wifey might feel different!!

 

The start times are odd. I get the real time Las Vegas effect. But what about the other 99% of viewers?

It will be on the calendar next year. Just two races earlier and three hours sooner.

IMHO

 

F1 is traditional in Europe. In the USA, it's just the Netflix effect.

 

F1 is becoming more and more American: “Anything worth doing is worth doing to excess.”

 

F1 would not survive without a U.S. audience.

 

Opening ceremony just started ...Formula 1 youtube channel

 

"Stupid" rumor. Its going to be a smash hit.

You need to listen less to Vital Vegas. That guy hates all sports.

 

Verstappen felt like “a clown” at glitzy Las Vegas F1 opening ceremony
Max Verstappen has voiced his disapproval of the showbiz element around Formula 1's Las Vegas Grand Prix, noting that he felt like “a clown” at Wednesday’s opening ceremony.


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Along with a drone show and musical performances, the event included a section during which the drivers emerged from giant boxes on the pit straight and were introduced to the crowd.

Verstappen, who also opted to miss a later VIP event at the Wynn’s hotel complex that F1 boss Stefano Domenicali asked all the drivers to attend, made it clear that he is not enjoying the Las Vegas experience thus far.

"For me you can all skip these things," the Red Bull driver said when asked about the ceremony. "It's not about the singer, it's just standing up there, you look like a clown."

Asked to what degree the Las Vegas weekend was a show, he said: "99% show, and 1% sporting event."

The triple world champion continued: "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."

As a result, Verstappen indicated that he is not looking forward to the event - the first staged in Las Vegas since the Caesars Palace Grand Prix in 1982.

"This weekend?” he replied when asked about it. “No. I'm looking forward to try to do the best I can, but I'm not looking forward to this [the show]."

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PHOTO BY: SIMON GALLOWAY / MOTORSPORT IMAGES

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing Sergio Perez, Red Bull Racing

Verstappen acknowledged that Liberty Media is keen to make an impact in Las Vegas and 'fully understood' its desire to maximise the show element.

He said: "You can look at it two ways, business side or sport side, so I of course understand their side of it as well, but I'm just voicing my opinion on the performance side of things.

"We are not stakeholders, so we just go with it. I mean, they decide what they do, right?

"I would do the same if I was the owner, I wouldn't listen to the drivers, it's my sport, I do with it what I want if that would be the case."

Asked if he thought that voicing his opinion would make a difference, he downplayed the suggestion.

"It's also not my aim that it makes a massive difference," he said. "But when you ask me a question and I feel like I want to answer it, I'll answer it in an honest way."

He added: "If someone really wants to go into this direction, that you want a lot more show attached to the kind of programme, I guess we have to deal with that.

“But as long as everything goes well of course, then also they can say everything is working well. But yeah, let's see how long fans also like this.

"I just drive where I have to drive. I mean, you can still voice your opinion about stuff. For the rest of you just do your weekend, and go to the next."

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PHOTO BY: STEVEN TEE / MOTORSPORT IMAGES

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

Pressed on the value of his opinion to F1 and Liberty, Verstappen downplayed the potential impact.

"Well, I don't know,” he said. “I mean, I guess they still make money if I like it or not, so it's not up to me.

"But you know, I'm also not going to fake it, I just always voiced my opinion in positive things, and negative things.

“And that's just how I am. And some people like a show a bit more.

"I don't like it at all, I grew up just looking at the performance side of things, and that's how I see it as well. So for me, I like to be in Vegas, but not so much for racing."

Verstappen also made it clear that he’s not very impressed by the Las Vegas circuit layout.

"Yeah, not very interesting,” he said when asked about it by Autosport. “It's just not many corners, to be honest.

"I don't know. I mean, it also will depend probably a bit on how grippy it is. Doesn't look like it has a lot of grip but yeah, we'll go with the flow.

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PHOTO BY: ZAK MAUGER / MOTORSPORT IMAGES

A view of the track

"I don't think it's that exciting, that's the only thing.

"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.

"Of course it will be great driving through the Strip, but then the layout itself is not the most exciting, I think.

"An F1 car is a lot more fun with a lot of high-speed corners."

 

F1 bans three key colours from Sphere during Vegas GP action
Formula 1 and the FIA have agreed to ban the colours yellow, red and blue from the MSG Sphere during the Las Vegas Grand Prix to avoid distracting the drivers.

 

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Today they announced they will put live data on the Sphere during the race and some kind of live broadcast after the race.

 

If you are nearby Bellagio still has rooms with all types of views.
Mandalay Bay and MGM Grand as well for much less than Bellagio.