McLaren team principal Andrea Stella has become the latest major F1 figure to question the show and glamour around the Las Vegas Grand Prix. Max Verstappen has been leading the charge for change with the reigning world champion extremely frustrated over the extra-curricular activities bestowed upon him in Sin City.
The first-ever Las Vegas street race produced some immense racing and is now being discussed as possibly the most entertaining Grand Prix of the season, but a chaotic but short-lived FP1 session as well as the lavish opening ceremony meant that the weekend didn’t get off the smoothest start.
While some drivers suggested that they don’t enjoy the showbiz side of events such as Miami and Las Vegas, Verstappen was unwavering in his criticism. The reigning world champion brandished the race as “99 per cent show and one per cent sporting event” in the aftermath of the opening ceremony.
Stella has now offered his suggestions regarding how the Las Vegas GP organisers could improve the event, stating: “I think the timetable is very challenging. It’s very challenging for the staff, and it’s very challenging for everyone, so ideally this is also a matter that can be reviewed.
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“And, what I could say [also] is that it was a stretch, it was taken to the limit, in terms of the spectacle, in terms of the entertainment and the show. I think it’s good to some extent because I’m sure it was enjoyed. But we just have to ask ourselves whether that’s just going a little too far.
“Certainly the point of involving drivers we support 100% because the drivers are the engine of the popularity of the sport and the success of the sport. But at the same time, what I could see is that for the drivers as well, it’s been a very busy weekend.
“So we need to see if this is the right trade-off between keeping drivers focused on the fact that they have to go racing, and also supporting the show. So definitely there are a few points that deserve consideration.”
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The main positive to come out of the weekend was the track layout and the racing it promoted. Despite pre-race scepticism, the Grand Prix produced a thrilling battle for victory as first Charles Leclerc and then Sergio Perez took the lead before Verstappen eventually made his way to the front.
There was, however, less to celebrate for Stella and McLaren as Lando Norris was involved in a major shunt on lap four before team-mate Oscar Piastri suffered a puncture following a tight wheel-to-wheel battle with Lewis Hamilton.
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