Verstappen sees areas for improvement Las Vegas: 'This can be different in the future'

Max Verstappen was not a fan of the activities surrounding the Las Vegas Grand Prix, but the world champion had enjoyed the on-track action. Still, the Dutchman sees areas for improvement for the next races in Las Vegas, as Charles Leclerc and Sergio Perez would also like to see some changes implemented.

Charles Leclerc has a list of areas for improvement for the US organisation. For instance, he would like to see the start time of the sessions brought forward. For example, qualifying was at 0:00 local time, and the actual race started at 22:00 in Las Vegas. "I can see the point, obviously with the audience in Europe. I don't know if that's even the point or why we have been racing so late, but I felt like it was a bit on the limit."

One disadvantage of such a late start is that the temperature drops quite a bit. According to Leclerc, we should look into starting the sessions in '24 earlier: "And also for the temperatures, it was very, very tricky so this is definitely one thing I would like to change for next year. On the other hand, as I've said, since the beginning of the weekend I’ve really enjoyed it. I am especially happy to see that we finished this weekend on a high note because it was hurting me to see the sport that I love so much starting on the wrong foot on Thursday. But the fact that we had an amazing race, I think, makes it all up and I'm happy with that. So yeah, not much more to change apart from the timing."

Verstappen considers touring America

Max Verstappen thinks moving the Las Vegas Grand Prix to another time of year is a good idea anyway. The world champion cited that already a week later a visit to Abu Dhabi is scheduled, a Grand Prix 19 hours' flight away and in a totally different time zone. "But I think the other thing, for sure, for next year, maybe that is not possible but to maybe make it a bit better travelling also to Abu Dhabi, because at the moment it's such a big time shift that, especially at the end of the season when everyone is already a bit tired, I think it's a little bit much."

"So maybe it would be ideal to find a different kind of date because I find that maybe we need to do more of an American tour. I know, of course, maybe for ticket sales, but I don't know if that's ideal. So maybe we can find a bit of a solution there. I think the 12-hour time zone shifts and completely different timings for racing also are… I find that a bit much," the Red Bull Racing driver said.

Perez sees Las Vegas as end of season

Sergio Perez is fine with Verstappen's words. "For me, I think it was a great first event but I would change, like Max says, the… just to think about that we have to go now to Abu Dhabi, probably the longest distance that we have to travel in the whole year. So yeah, probably look at it and probably make Vegas the final race. That will be also very nice for me; I'm only two hours away from Guadalajara so that would be a nice end."