The highly anticipated Las Vegas Grand Prix had ended, and it is not good news for the seven-time World Champion Lewis Hamilton. The weekend was filled with highs and lows for the Mercedes driver as he started from a much humble tenth spot. As the practice session came to an abrupt halt due to the manhole lid that was run over by Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz, Vegas was marred with controversies. Despite all the mishaps, Lewis Hamilton managed to bag the seventh spot.
All the happenings in and around the track in the very famous Sin City had taken a toll on the drivers. This was made clear by the British driver when he told the Sky Sports interviewer that he had a “negotiation” with teammate George Russell to be able to give the interview first as he “just want to get out of here.” Throughout the race, Hamilton was able to progress upwards but at the end, he landed with a well-deserved P7.
“I just had a negotiation to be able to be with you first. I just want to get out of here.” 🤣🤣#LasVegasGP https://t.co/8RoQbwvVaX pic.twitter.com/4DmBonscnQ
— Sir Lewis Updates (@LH44updates) November 19, 2023
The driver had a rough start at the race on Sunday as his Mercedes came in contact with the McLaren driven by rookie driver Oscar Piastri. The incident took place on Lap 16 out of 50 which forced the drivers to make an additional pitstop to get the repairs done. The second McLaren driver, Lando Norris had to retire early as he crashed during the initial lap of the race.
Lewis Hamilton celebrates Las Vegas Grand Prix triumph and silences critics
Drivers as well as teams and staff, including Lewis Hamilton, unanimously praised the inaugural Las Vegas Grand Prix, hailing it as one of the standout races in the season. To put to rest the worries of some who were skeptical about the race’s entertainment value, Hamilton emphasized its outstanding quality in particular.
In a subtle jab at current world champion Max Verstappen, who has been critical of the Las Vegas meeting, the Briton pointed out that the race had exceeded expectations by delivering an incredible spectacle. He said, “For all those who said it was all about the show, Vegas proved them wrong. There have been so many people who have been negative about the show and all that – but just let it be, see how it goes and it was huge.”
Lewis Hamilton responds to Max Verstappen:
Lewis Hamilton: “The Las Vegas GP proved those who said it was all show wrong.” https://t.co/K0qlZcYhT4 pic.twitter.com/Sp8gNgpily
— GoatTop Sports (@goattopsports) November 19, 2023
Recognizing the organizers’ success, Hamilton added he was looking at the prospect of coming back to Vegas for another race and appreciated the city for hosting them. Beyond the success of certain drivers, Red Bull team principal Christian Horner voiced confidence about the race’s potential influence on the expanding American viewership. The post-race evaluation was very upbeat, reflecting how pleased everyone was with the Las Vegas Grand Prix.
