F1 News: We must be more 'respectful' to Vegas locals

(GMM) Formula 1 needs to be “respectful” of the places it visits, Lewis Hamilton declared ahead of the sport’s highly anticipated return to Las Vegas.

As the paddock prepares for the highly-unique event, F1 owner Liberty Media’s CEO Greg Maffei took the extraordinary step of apologizing to the public for a raft of pre-event problems.

The circuit takes in the fabled neon Casino ‘Strip’, but to make space for the required infrastructure, some trees had to be pulled out and even the iconic fountains at the Bellagio have had to be drained.

Tourists cannot use the gondoliers at the Venetian resort because canals have been drained and closed, with CNN claiming the Strip is “unrecognizable” in plenty of other ways.

University of Nevada Las Vegas professor Michael Green said the situation and the disruption is “clearly causing a lot of uproar”, and it’s also hurt F1 ticket sales – which were originally put on the market for eye-watering amounts of money.

The cheapest tickets have been slashed from a whopping $1,645 to just over $800, according to Forbes, some hotel prices have also dropped by half, while Fox 5 Vegas claims the late-night session times and cold weather have left local interest in decline.

“I’ve heard there’s been a lot of complaints about the event being here from the locals,” seven time world champion Lewis Hamilton said at a sponsor event in Las Vegas for Mercedes team sponsor IWC.

“I think we have to be respectful of the locals here,” he added. “So many people working so hard. There’s a lot of money and wealth in this city.

“We’ve got to make sure people are taken care of. We can’t be a circus that shows up that’s all glitz and glamour and people are affected negatively by it, in my opinion.”

Hamilton Tells Verstappen to Enjoy Vegas for what it is

Lewis Hamilton has told Max Verstappen to stop complaining after his rival criticized Formula One’s maiden race on the Las Vegas strip as “99 per cent show, and one per cent sport”.

Verstappen’s controversial remarks – which will irk F1’s American owners’ Liberty Media following their estimated £400million gamble to bring the sport back to Sin City for the first time in 41 years – arrived just moments after a glittering Superbowl-style opening ceremony on Wednesday night.

“It is 99 per cent show and one per cent sporting event,” said the 26-year-old. “I was just standing up there, looking like a clown.

“I guess they (F1) still make money whether I like it or not. So it’s not up to me. But I’m not going to fake it.

“I voice my opinion on positive things and negative things. That’s just how I am. And you know, some people like the 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. I like to be in Vegas, but not so much for racing.”

However, responding to criticism, Hamilton, 38, said: “I hear there are a lot of people complaining about the direction that (F1 CEO) Stefano (Domenicali) and Liberty has gone. But they are doing an amazing job.

“The sport continues to grow. It is a business and you will still see good racing here. It is a country to tap into and really captivate the audience.

“We needed to have at least two races in the US, one wasn’t enough, and this is one of the most iconic and unique cities that they have here.

“It is a big show for sure, and it is never going to be like Silverstone, but maybe over time, the people in this community will grow to love the sport.

“Maybe the track will be good, and maybe it will be bad. It was so-so on the simulator. But don’t knock it until you try it.”