Verstappen: Can't compare historic Monaco to Las Vegas show

With the most anticipated race on the F1 calendar, making a return to the schedule 41 years since it was held in a Caesars Palace car park, less than two weeks away and a bunch of last-minute, potentially disruptive challenges on the cards, triple F1 World Champion Verstappen's thumbs down is hardly what Liberty Media desire.

But Verstappen, with the status he now has more so than ever before, is hardly one to shut up and tends to echo what racers among the F1 community - fans to media - believe but the sport's bosses tend to ignore, in search of the big money that will emerge from their venture.

Speaking to reporters in Sao Paulo during the course of the GP weekend, Verstappen shared his thoughts on the next round in Vegas: "First of all, I think we are there more for the show than the racing itself if you look at the layout of the track. But you know, I'm actually not that into it. I'm more like, I'll go there and do my thing and be gone again."

Asked to compare the venue of Round 21 of the 2023 F1 World Championship, namely Las Vegas to the sport's crown jewel Monaco Grand Prix, Verstappen reckoned: “But Monaco is also about history and the place itself... Everyone wants to have been to Monaco once. You can't really compare."

"In terms of a racing spectacle, maybe no but in terms of potential partners, for the whole thing around it may be. Of course, that's something I'm not very much into," added Verstappen

As for how he will tackle the hunt for an incredible 18th victory of the season, this time in Las Vegas, Verstappen said: "I'll deal with that once I arrive at the track. I mean, there's still a lot to do. I still need to go on the simulator. I still don't even know the track, to be honest.

"The last time I tried it on the F1 game, I think I hit more walls than I was going straight. So, let’s hope that’s not the case when I start driving there! But yeah, I mean, it's going to be very different to Brazil: very low temperatures, of course at night there. Street circuit.

"We have no experience there. We don't know the track grip. All new. So maybe it will give you a few surprises. I don't know," conceded the runaway 2023 F1 World Champion.

The last couple of GPs in Las Vegas, on a car park track that did not include the famous Strip, was billed as the Caesar Grand Prix I and II. Alan Jones the 1981 race for Williams, with Michele Alboreto winning for Tyrrell a year later.