Lance Stroll SLAMS Las Vegas GP opening ceremony, claims drivers don’t want to be ‘Hollywood stars’

Lance Stroll was not happy with the Las Vegas GP opening ceremony.

Lance Stroll SLAMS Las Vegas GP opening ceremony, claims drivers don’t want to be ‘Hollywood stars’

Lance Stroll (Via IMAGO)

The Las Vegas GP weekend is underway. Formula 1 and Liberty Media have invested almost half a billion dollars into the inaugural race on the iconic Vegas Strip. The weekend started off with a grand opening ceremony a day prior to the first on-track session. However, many drivers have not been impressed by the event including Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll.

The opening ceremony was a 30-minute event that was streamed globally on F1’s official social media handles. It included a music concert for attendees with the 20 F1 drivers being introduced to Sin City. Although, the driver introductions only lasted for 2 minutes with the rest of the event comprising of just the music.

Lance Stroll was one of several drivers who decided to miss an event after the ceremony despite F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali requesting the presence of all drivers. Moreover, the Canadian driver made it clear that such an event was not to his taste. With Stroll even pointing out that such a ceremony was not something he had signed up for as an F1 driver.

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It’s not really my thing. Didn’t sign up for that part of it all

Lance Stroll told Motorsportweek.com

Additionally, the Aston Martin driver claimed that such events delve too deep into aspects of Hollywood instead of Formula 1. Subsequently, Lance Stroll insisted that F1 drivers were happy to continue racing instead of trying to reach stardom in Hollywood.

I mean, we’re racing drivers, you know. Yeah, I think sometimes kind of… goes too much in the whole like Hollywood star side of things, you know. I just like racing cars, not trying to be a Hollywood star.

Lance Stroll hopes F1 does not lose its purity in the future

The Canadian driver acknowledged that the Las Vegas GP would be great commercially for F1 and Sin City. Vegas is expected to earn over $1.3 Billion in economic benefits from the race this year. Stroll admitted that the inaugural Vegas race would do wonders for the sport in the crucial market of the United States.

Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll during the Las Vegas GP opening ceremony
Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll during the Las Vegas GP opening ceremony (Via IMAGO)

Lance Stroll pointed out that the three F1 races in the US would bring in more American sponsors. However, the Canadian hoped that F1 would not delve too deep into attracting new fans. As it could affect the sport’s purity. As such, the Aston Martin driver hoped that FOM would find a perfect balance in this regard.

It’s huge, huge for the valuation of the business, sponsors, attracting more sponsorship, hopefully more American sponsorship, three races in America, but I hope we don’t just go into the kinda avenue of these kinds of races and lose the purity of Formula 1 as it’s nice to have the balance.

Certainly, many drivers share Lance Stroll’s opinion. However, Formula 1 is currently trying to ambush the US market with the Las Vegas GP. The sport expects hefty returns in the long run with the race potentially staying on the calendar for at least the next ten years. Although, it remains to be seen if the Vegas street race will be a success.

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