“It’s Vegas, baby!” is a tagline you likely won’t hear from Formula One champion Max Verstappen, who has made it clear he is not enthused by the glamorous spectacle surrounding this weekend’s Las Vegas Grand Prix.

The inaugural Las Vegas race is set to be one of the biggest sporting events of the year, with F1 bringing its brand of racing to the iconic Las Vegas Strip. Huge investments have been made to promote the event, including drivers being welcomed by Elvis impersonators and personalized Vegas signs.

However, Verstappen has bluntly admitted he has “zero interest” in all the pageantry. In media interviews, including with The Race, he stated, “I don’t like all the things around it. I’m looking forward to trying to do the best I can, but I’m not looking forward to this.”

The Dutch driver was particularly unimpressed by the lavish opening ceremony that saw drivers lifted on platforms to wave at crowds on the start/finish straight, comparing it to “looking like a clown.”

When asked about the balance between show and sport, Verstappen estimated it was “99% show, 1% sporting event.” He emphasized he prefers to solely focus on the racing rather than get caught up in the spectacle.

So while many drivers are embracing the bright lights of Vegas, don’t expect the straight-faced Verstappen to be swayed by Sin City’s glitz and glamour. For the reigning world champion, it’s all about performance on the track, not the pomp and circumstance surrounding it. Verstappen’s clear disinterest shows he remains laser focused on the racing amid F1’s continued push to win over the American market.