Las Vegas GP ready to roll the dice on Verstappen title celebration
Today at 05:53 AM
The Las Vegas Grand Prix organizers are ready to put together an epic championship celebration for Max Verstappen if the Dutchman clinches his fourth F1 world title next week in Sin City.
Verstappen's sensational win last time out in Brazil delivered to the Red Bull charger a 62-point lead in the Driver's championship with three races – and one Sprint event – to go.
But Verstappen will only need to finish ahead of his sole rival, Lando Norris, in Las Vegas, or concede less than three points to the McLaren driver, to seal his fourth world crown in F1.
With this historic possibility on the horizon, Las Vegas Grand Prix CEO Renee Wilm confirmed that conversations have already taken place with Red Bull to explore how the entertainment capital of the world might celebrate Verstappen's victory should he clinch the title next week.
"I'm sure that we would be able to pull some ideas out of our hat, maybe pre-arrange some pretty exciting opportunities," she told Motorsport.com.
Wilm emphasizes the abundance of possibilities the city offers for a champion's celebration. From the high-end hospitality at Wynn and Encore to the iconic Bellagio fountains and VIP experiences, Vegas boasts a stage perfectly suited for F1 royalty.
"When you consider the properties on the Strip - Wynn and Encore are second to none in terms of the highest class of hospitality," she said. "Then, of course, you have the Bellagio further down the Strip, with those iconic fountains, and the level of VIP service that the Bellagio offers.
"There are so many opportunities to highlight the drivers, and particularly if we actually do have the benefit of being able to get a champion (crowned)."
Read also:
The Las Vegas Strip Circuit, which made its grand debut last year, proved an instant hit, with 316,000 spectators attending the event.
The Saturday evening race not only delivered a thrilling spectacle but also provided fans with a world-class experience, blending the speed and glamour of F1 with the city's renowned nightlife and hospitality.
This year's event has seen organizers cater to a wider audience, adding more general admission tickets to complement the existing VIP offerings. The goal remains to create an electrifying atmosphere while ensuring a luxurious experience for high rollers.
©RedBull
While fans suffered a set-back last year on the opening day of running following a dramatic drain cover issue that destroyed Carlos Sainz's Ferrari, Wilm anticipates a potential surge in ticket sales, especially with the championship on the line this time around.
"Oh, absolutely I think the fact that the championship is still up for grabs is incredibly influential, particularly in the US market," Wilm explained.
"I think there's the legacy fans that are oftentimes more focused, maybe on how their team or their driver is performing, whereas in the US, we love to see good competition, and it's less about who the particular team or driver is.
"So to know that there is still so much on the line and that the championship is going to be up for grabs, and the fact you've had so many different drivers on the podium is itself creating a lot of excitement and buzz."
As Wilm describes it, Las Vegas offers an unparalleled venue for an F1 race.
"I've always said it's the perfect marriage of speed and glamour in Las Vegas, and I'm going to continue to believe that, because you couldn't think of another place in the world - putting aside Monaco - where you could have this level of hospitality and bring in this calibre of celebrities to enjoy everything that Las Vegas has to offer," she said.
With Hollywood stars, VIPs, and celebrity fans already confirmed to attend, the second Las Vegas GP promises to be an extravagant affair.
"We could not be happier with the turnout we had last year from our celebrity fans, and we're very excited about everyone heading out this year as well. We obviously have our red carpet," Wilm revealed.
"It was absolutely packed last year, and we're looking forward to welcoming back many of those celebrities, as well as some new ones as well, who are really excited about heading out to Vegas."
Keep up to date with all the F1 news via Facebook and Twitter
The post Las Vegas GP ready to roll the dice on Verstappen title celebration appeared first on F1i.com.
