Las Vegas Grand Prix provides an exciting race to appease critics.

The much anticipated race is here with exciting features…

• LAS VEGAS The much-maligned Las Vegas Grand Prix finished in spectacular fashion on Saturday night, providing a thrilling race on the renowned Las Vegas Strip to make up for previous errors.

The news of a third U.S. Grand Prix was welcomed at first, but as street closures hampered transportation and public interest started to decline in the days before the race, things started to go south.

To make matters worse, a catastrophic first practice on Thursday night was called off after just eight minutes due to track repairs, which prompted angry fans to file a class action lawsuit.

Even Max Verstappen, the winner of the inaugural event, who is the harshest critic of the LVGP, had to concede that the night in Nevada was clear and crisp.

“It was an amazing experience,” the Red Bull driver remarked following his season-ending record-tying 18th Formula One win.

Verstappen caused a stir this week when he criticized the race’s spectacle and the attendees themselves. Verstappen had already secured the championship before traveling to Vegas.

But he pulled a U-turn after Saturday’s triumph.

“A great crowd,” Verstappen said in the winner’s circle as the famed Bellagio fountains danced in the background.

“I hope everyone enjoyed it, we definitely did. Excited to come back here next year and try to do something similar.”

Red Bull Principal Christian Horner said Verstappen relished the experience.

“I think he changed his mind about Vegas,” he stated.

Carlos Sainz’s Ferrari was completely destroyed by a loose drain cover on the 3.8-mile (6-kilometer) street course on Thursday, raising questions about the quality of the recently constructed track. However, Lewis Hamilton lauded the circuit following his seventh-place finish.

“Many excellent opportunities to overtake,” Hamilton remarked.

“And I think for all those who were so negative about the weekend, saying it was all about show blah blah blah, I think Vegas proved them wrong.”

This week, locals and employees had mixed opinions over Formula One’s return to the city following an almost 40-year hiatus.

While some told Reuters it was too disruptive for them to live with on a daily basis, others contended it was the very kind of event the city needed to draw in order to grow.

Charles Leclerc, who finished in second place, had one more word of appreciation for the LVGP: it will continue to take place on the Saturday before Thanksgiving for the next ten years.

“There was no better race to be the first race in Vegas,” he stated. “The city has such amazing energy, and I’m just incredibly happy.” I had a great time today.” CREDITS