‘Blah blah blah’: Hamilton’s cheeky dig at Mad Max over Vegas whine as thriller proves critics wrong

Lewis Hamilton has taken aim at critics of the Las Vegas GP – including Max Verstappen – with a cheeky dig at the whingers.

Verstappen had been an ardent critic of the new race, repeatedly slamming its glitz and glamour as distracting from the sporting side of the competition.

Earlier in the week, he called it “99 per cent show and 1 per cent sporting event.”

And he was particularly frustrated with the opening ceremony, where drivers were put on display for the fans, saying: “We are just standing up there looking like a clown.”

After qualifying, he took aim again in a passionate take-down of Vegas.

Asked how a lap of qualifying in Vegas compared to one at Monaco, he was brutally clear: “I think Monaco is like the Champions League, this is National League.”

“I love Vegas but not to drive in a Formula One car,” he added. “I love to have a few drinks, throw everything on red, have some nice food but emotions, passion? It’s not there compared to some old-school tracks.”

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And if that wasn’t enough, he continued: “I understand fans need maybe something to do around a track but it is more important to make them understand what we do as a sport.

“Most come to just have a party, drink, see a performance act. I can do that all over the world, I can do Ibiza and get completely shit-faced and have a good time.

“People come here, but they become a fan of what? They want to maybe see their favourite artist and have a few drinks with their mates, and then go out and have a crazy night.

“But they don’t understand what we are doing, and what we are putting on the line to perform.”

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But after the race, where the Dutch champion claimed a new record 18th win, he changed his tune – even singing Elvis’ Viva Las Vegas as he crossed the finish line.

And Hamilton emphatically stated the event had proved the critics wrong.

“Lots of great overtaking opportunities 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,” Hamilton told Sky F1.

Red Bull boss Christian Horner also praised the event.

“I thought it was a great race. Exciting. You’ve got long straights, big braking zones and no grip, so tricky for the drivers,” Horner said.

“I thought it delivered a great Grand Prix and the speeds around here are insane.

“[Verstappen] loves a race like that. Even though he was on the end of a penalty. When he came back … the way he fought. I think he changed his mind about Vegas!”

Mercedes own team boss Toto Wolff was similarly effusive in his praise.

“I wouldn’t change a lot,” Wolff said after the race.

“I would change qualifying maybe from midnight to 10pm, like the race start. So you can still have the roads open (for) long at Vegas and have dinner for the fans.

“Other than that, it was a perfect event.”