Formula One - 'It's 99% show and 1% sporting event': Verstappen tears a strip off Las Vegas GP
The Guardian|November 17, 2023
Formula One’s hopes to open the Las Vegas Grand Prix weekend with a bang were dealt a blow when its reigning world champion, Max Verstappen, dismissed the meeting as “99% show and 1% sporting event”.
Giles Richards
Formula One - 'It's 99% show and 1% sporting event': Verstappen tears a strip off Las Vegas GP

The Dutchman was scathing about what F1 hopes will be its biggest race of the year and a showcase for the sport.

This weekend’s meeting is the first to be promoted and organised by F1’s owners, Liberty Media, and what certainly was a show had begun in the early evening of Wednesday with an extravagant opening ceremony held on the start-finish straight. A series of acts including Kylie Minogue and John Legend were accompanied by lasers and fireworks before the festivities climaxed with the drivers elevated on lifts on to stages to wave to the crowd of approximately 30,000 in the new pit and paddock grandstand complex F1 has purpose built in the city.

Verstappen had not enjoyed the experience. “For me, you can skip this,” he said. “It’s not about the singers. We are just standing up there, looking like a clown.” So unenamoured was he that he had also declined to attend a party at the Wynn casino held by the F1 CEO, Stefano Domenicali, because as he put it bluntly he had “zero interest”.

Bu hikaye The Guardian dergisinin November 17, 2023 sayısından alınmıştır.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

Bu hikaye The Guardian dergisinin November 17, 2023 sayısından alınmıştır.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

THE GUARDIAN DERGISINDEN DAHA FAZLA HIKAYETümünü görüntüle
'Cold and direct' Fayed's security chief accused of facilitating abuse
The Guardian

'Cold and direct' Fayed's security chief accused of facilitating abuse

It was May 1991 and Mohamed AI Fayed was in a foul mood. \"I told you, no sex with anybody else, no relationship with anybody else,\" he ranted.

time-read
5 dak  |
September 27, 2024
Allegations made over tycoon's years at Fulham FC
The Guardian

Allegations made over tycoon's years at Fulham FC

Sexual assault allegations have been made relating to Mohamed AI Fayed's 16 years of ownership of Fulham Football Club, lawyers representing his accusers have said.

time-read
2 dak  |
September 27, 2024
'No sane people are going' Leadership race casts pall over Tory conference
The Guardian

'No sane people are going' Leadership race casts pall over Tory conference

On Tuesday, four candidates will make their pitches to lead the Conservative party from a conference stage in Birmingham. Their immediate challenge after the Tory rout this summer will be to reinvigorate demoralised MPs and members.

time-read
3 dak  |
September 27, 2024
Pandemic as deadly as Covid-19 'a certainty', says Whitty
The Guardian

Pandemic as deadly as Covid-19 'a certainty', says Whitty

Another pandemic as big as the Covid crisis that killed 7 million people worldwide was \"a certainty\", Prof Sir Chris Whitty warned yesterday, as he said the UK's lack of intensive care capacity for the sickest patients was a \"political choice\".

time-read
2 dak  |
September 27, 2024
Naomi Campbell banned as charity trustee for five years
The Guardian

Naomi Campbell banned as charity trustee for five years

Naomi Campbell has been banned from being a charity trustee after a watchdog investigation uncovered widespread evidence of financial misconduct at the poverty relief charity she founded.

time-read
2 dak  |
September 27, 2024
Family haunted by last moments of teenager killed by 12-year-olds
The Guardian

Family haunted by last moments of teenager killed by 12-year-olds

The family of a man killed by the UK's youngest knife murderers have said they are haunted by thoughts of his last moments and \"how scared he must have been\".

time-read
2 dak  |
September 27, 2024
London rail stations to be shut for up to eight days over festive period
The Guardian

London rail stations to be shut for up to eight days over festive period

Some of London's main railway stations will be closed and train services diverted at Christmas time, Network Rail has said.

time-read
1 min  |
September 27, 2024
The Guardian

'Weekend warrior' workouts may provide same health boost as more regular exercise

If exercise takes a back seat in the working week, take heart. Cramming the recommended amount of weekly activity into weekends has significant health benefits, research suggests.

time-read
2 dak  |
September 27, 2024
'Was there an attack?' Tel Avivians unfazed but hope fades for hostages
The Guardian

'Was there an attack?' Tel Avivians unfazed but hope fades for hostages

Air raid sirens blared in Tel Aviv on Wednesday morning as, for the first time, Hezbollah fired a surface-to-surface missile at the coastal city. A few minutes later, beachgoers flooded the bustling promenade, playing volleyball, cycling and kite surfing.

time-read
2 dak  |
September 27, 2024
Dotting the Es: abbey corrects spelling of Brontë in Poets' Corner after 85 years
The Guardian

Dotting the Es: abbey corrects spelling of Brontë in Poets' Corner after 85 years

An 85-year injustice has been rectified at Poets' Corner in Westminster Abbey with a correction to the spelling of one of the greatest of all literary names. Reader, it is finally Brontë, not Bronte.

time-read
2 dak  |
September 27, 2024