LEWIS HAMILTON ON GEORGE RUSSELL WHILE WATCHING Q3 LAP OF THE LAS VEGAS GP 2023

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COLUMN: F1 HITS THE JACKPOT ON LAS VEGAS ON ITS $500 MILLION GAMBLE AFTER MANY STUMBLES ON THE STRIP

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LAS VEGAS (AP) — There were missteps and mistakes, and a master class in how not to handle customer relations. But by the time Justin Bieber waved the checkered flag on Formula One's return to Las Vegas, the $500 million Sin City gamble had hit the jackpot.

F1 and owner Liberty Media hosted an electrifying event Saturday night that turned out to be both one of the best races of the season and a glitzy international spectacle that can only be pulled off in Las Vegas.

It was like a show with poor reviews that suddenly becomes an overnight hit.

Max Verstappen trashed the race every chance he got, but the LVGP delivered for the eventual winner and he was singing “Viva Las Vegas!” as he won for the 18th time this season. He was an instant Las Vegas convert.

Verstappen said he'd have to analyze the rest of the season before declaring Saturday night the best race of the year, but smiled and said: "It was a fun race. I enjoyed it."

Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez even suggested Las Vegas should be F1's season finale.