World champion Max Verstappen also won the premiere of Formula 1 on the streets of Las Vegas. The Red Bull driver sat down late on Saturday evening (November 18th, 2023, local time) and thus drew level with ex-driver Sebastian Vettel in the all-time best list.
Verstappen won in an exciting race ahead of Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc. Verstappen’s teammate Sergio Perez came third, thus securing second place in the drivers’ standings in the penultimate race of the season.
Verstappen with 53 wins – level with Vettel
On the street circuit there were countless, wild changes of position throughout the field, maneuvers at 350 km/h, Verstappen already seemed defeated – and in the end he celebrated a great success: With his 53rd Grand Prix victory, he drew level with Sebastian Vettel, in the Only Lewis Hamilton (103) and Michael Schumacher (91) are ahead of him on the all-time best list.
For Verstappen, who has been world champion since the beginning of October, it was the 18th victory in the 21st race of the season. Haas driver Nico Hülkenberg retired.
Big show even before the start
Before the start of the race, for the first time in almost 40 years a Grand Prix took place on a Saturday, there was the expected show in Las Vegas. The national anthem played, then “Viva Las Vegas” blared out of the speakers. The drivers were introduced individually on the start-finish straight before they climbed into street cruisers and were celebrated by the packed grandstands; stars like Shaquille O’Neal and Rihanna followed the race. The three-time world champion Verstappen, who had previously criticized the eventization of Formula 1 in the USA, was apparently only moderately enthusiastic about the drivers’ parade, but wore his racing overalls, modeled on Elvis Presley’s white costume, with composure.
Norris slides off the track
During the race, the layout of the track with two long straights led to numerous attacks and counter-attacks, and the new, slippery asphalt posed a major challenge. Among others, McLaren driver Lando Norris was caught, triggering one of two safety car phases. The Englishman radioed the all-clear to the pits, but was later examined in the medical center and then in the hospital.
Lawsuit announced against Formula 1 after training farce
The farce at the start of the race weekend in Las Vegas apparently has legal consequences. As the Dimopoulos law firm announced, a class action lawsuit has been filed in the district court of the US state of Nevada on behalf of thousands of fans. Together with JK Legal & Consulting, they are standing up for 35,000 fans who did not see any training sessions on Thursday evening.
The first free practice session was canceled after eight minutes after a drain cover came loose on the track and damaged Carlos Sainz’s Ferrari. The track had to be repaired for hours and the second training session scheduled for midnight was postponed to 2.30 a.m. However, the organizers sent the fans home at 1.30 a.m.
“We will defend the rights of fans who have traveled long distances and paid small fortunes but have been denied the experience“, said the well-known lawyer Steve Dimopoulos, who places advertising on huge billboards and on TV in Las Vegas. The defendants are the Formula 1 rights holder Liberty Media, as the promoter of the race, and the company TAB, which is responsible for the work in Las Vegas The route. Dimopoulos accuses them of breach of contract, negligence and deceptive trade practices.
Formula 1 defends its approach – Shopping voucher as compensation
Organizers declined to comment on the lawsuit on Saturday. Formula 1 explained this in a statement on Friday, saying that they had to keep an eye on the working hours of the employees. “We know that was disappointing,” Formula 1 managing director Stefano Domenicali is quoted as saying: “We hope the fans understand that we had to do justice to many interests.”
The statement does not contain an apology to the fans. As compensation, the organizers of the Grand Prix did not offer those affected a refund of the entry fee. Holders of a one-day ticket for the first two sessions will receive a $200 voucher for the race’s fan shops. However, holders of a ticket for all three days receive nothing, even though they have also been deprived of a large part of the service they purchased.
Las Vegas return of Formula 1
For the first time, Formula 1 is running a Grand Prix this weekend that will take you through the most famous streets of Las Vegas. There had been two races in the city in the 1980s, but these took place in the parking lot of Caesars Palace.