After a tumultuous start to the weekend, the Las Vegas Grand Prix ultimately exceeded the expectations set by its pre-race hype.

Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, who had already clinched the Formula One World Championship, secured his 18th victory of a remarkable season. However, this race was a far cry from the dull and predictable procession that the sport had become in recent seasons.

With multiple lead changes and countless overtakes throughout the field, the top three drivers crossed the finish line with just a 2.2-second gap between them. The weekend appeared to be heading for disaster when the first practice session was abruptly canceled after less than 10 minutes due to a loose drain cover. Prior to that, Verstappen had been a vocal critic of the event and its glitzy opening ceremony, referring to the race as “99% show, 1% sport.”

Despite the initial setback, Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton was full of praise for the grand prix, describing it as “so good” to race in. “I don’t know how it appeared to spectators, but there was so much overtaking,” he told Sky Sports. “It was like Baku – but better. I really wasn’t expecting the track to be so great, but the more laps you did, the more I loved racing on it.”

“Many were negative about the weekend, claiming it was all about show, but I think Vegas proved them wrong,” Hamilton added.

Eventually, even Verstappen enjoyed the spectacle, singing Elvis Presley’s “Viva Las Vegas” from the cockpit and donning an Elvis-themed race suit on the podium.

Formula One was returning to Las Vegas for the first time in more than 40 years, featuring a new street circuit that incorporated the city’s iconic Strip.

As expected, the event was star-studded, with celebrities like Brad Pitt, Rihanna, David Beckham, Shaquille O’Neal, and Usain Bolt in attendance. J Balvin, Kylie Minogue, and Tiesto provided musical entertainment throughout the weekend.

The reactions to the weekend were mixed, but there was still plenty of positivity to be found in Las Vegas. The BBC’s chief F1 writer, Andrew Benson, referred to the grand prix as a “thrilling spectacle.”

“On one side is the Strip, with cars racing past at 200mph, and on the other, you have the view of the Bellagio, its fountains, Caesars Palace, and other iconic venues,” Benson wrote. “A three-day ticket costs $11,247. But as a ‘wow’ moment – whether for devoted F1 fans, sports enthusiasts, or even those unfamiliar with the sport – the view rivals even the Monaco harbor on the grand prix calendar.”

Tom Cary, senior sports correspondent at The Telegraph, stated that the “biggest positive… was the race itself.” He added, “And there was certainly no shortage of action, much more than anticipated.”

However, Cary pointed out a series of errors made over the course of the weekend that might have left a sour taste for some fans, if not for the drivers.

Ticket costs led to many empty seats in the grandstands, and on Thursday, after the drain cover incident, fans were sent home by F1 in the middle of the night after watching less than 10 minutes of on-track action.

F1 chief Stefano Domenicali and Las Vegas GP chief Renee Wilm issued a joint statement, saying, “It happens, and we hope people will understand.”

There have been no refunds issued, with F1 only offering fans a $200 merchandise voucher, according to Reuters.

The Las Vegas Grand Prix lived up to the hype with thrilling racing and a star-studded lineup of attendees. Despite initial setbacks, the event proved critics wrong and showcased the excitement of Formula One’s return to Las Vegas.