(Las Vegas) Triple Dutch Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen explained on Wednesday his disinterest in the return of the circuit in Las Vegas with great fanfare, “99% of the show”.
Asked about the return of F1 to Las Vegas 41 years after the last Grand Prix contested in the gaming city, “it’s 99% spectacle and 1% sport,” Verstappen tackled.
Enough to cool the atmosphere a little on the sidelines of the opening ceremony of the event held on Wednesday, between concerts and drone show, before the start of the tests on Thursday then the race on Saturday evening (10 p.m. local time, 1 a.m. Sunday Eastern Time).
“It doesn’t give me a lot of emotion to be honest. I’m always focused on performance, I don’t really like everything that’s around,” said the driver who crushed the championship this season with 17 victories in 20 races (there are 2 left to go, Vegas then Abu Dhabi).
Asked about the circuit traced in the heart of the iconic Strip and its casinos, the Dutchman replied that he found it “not very interesting… It lacks turns. »
“I always give my opinion, positive or negative, that’s how I am. Some people like glitter, I’m not like that at all. I enjoy being in Vegas, but not for a competition. »
“I understand the commercial point of view” of the organizers, he nevertheless stressed. “I’m just giving my opinion on the sporting aspect. »
“Whether I like it or not, they still make money, so my opinion has little importance. But I’m not going to pretend. »