3 days ago
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It is only when you see Las Vegas from above that you truly realize how unique a place it is. An explosion of color in the middle of the dark Nevada desert.
And this week, there is perhaps no better time to experience the madness of Sin City... the Formula 1 roadshow is in town, and with it comes an A-list cast of musicians, politicians and reality TV stars.
Anyone who's anyone in the world of showbiz has a VIP ticket to the madness, attending sponsor events, sipping champagne in the $10,000-a-ticket Paddock Club, and rubbing shoulders with the 20 best racing drivers in the world.
It is Friday night, an hour before Formula 1 qualifying, and the Daily Mail is in a Maverick helicopter arcing through the skies over the track.
As pilot Joe Munoz explains, this is one of the city's biggest weeks of the year. He estimates that he's flown over the strip 10,000 times, but it doesn't often look like this.
'It's crazy,' he explains, 'the lights of the track as you fly back, there's a buzz in the air... the Strip looks really cool.'
The view from a Maverick helicopter flying over the Formula 1 track in Las Vegas, Nevada
Kristi Noem and Kash Patel were on site for discussions with F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali
After we touch down, he reveals that Max Verstappen - the man who has won the last four F1 world championships - has his private jet parked up outside the window.
And he's not the only one. There are hundreds of other jets, carrying the likes of Beyonce, Jay-Z, Cynthia Erivo, Naomi Campbell... and a very high-profile political pair.
Inside the gates of the F1 Paddock, a scrum of Secret Service officers crowd around a group of three. One is at home here, but the other two are debutants, being given a glimpse into the inner workings of the most expensive sport in the world.
The Daily Mail has a front-row view of FBI director Kash Patel and Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, as they are walked through the details of Formula 1 by its President and CEO Stefano Domenicali.
After greeting them and walking them past the hundreds of TV cameras stationed just inside the gates, Domenicali finds a quiet spot and explains the work that has gone into creating this remarkable race, which shuts down Vegas once a year.
It reportedly cost $500million to construct the permanent Paddock which holds luxury VIP suites above the teams' garages, but the sport easily made that back with organizers claiming that the 2024 race generated $934m in revenue for the city.
The lit-up Formula 1 circuit provides a very different experience for people flying over the city
Paris Hilton stole the show at a T-Mobile event announcing their '15 Minutes to Better' scheme
Max Verstappen, who won Saturday night's race, passes by the Sphere on the iconic track
On average, race fans spent $2,400 during their stay in the Nevada desert - double the average spent by visitors in other times of the year.
After getting the facts and figures with TV cameras trained in on them, Patel and Noem were ushered into the F1 motorhome, Domenicali's de facto office, for a more private chat.
As witnessed by the Daily Mail, they spent 20 minutes behind closed doors, before emerging - once again flanked by the Secret Service - for a tour of the pit lane.
F1's estimate of over $2k per visitor during race week certainly adds up when you see the line of people waiting to get into the Venetian on Saturday morning.
Inside the doors is the 'F1 Hub', where fans - already decked out in McLaren, Ferrari and Mercedes merch - can buy items from 'exclusive collaborations'... and buy they do.
The Daily Mail spoke to one fan who revealed he had queued for six hours from 9am to finally gain access to the goods, going on to spend hundreds for himself and his two sons who had traveled to Vegas for the race.
Others emerge with their arms full of team-branded t-shirts and jumpers, ready to take their place in the grandstands.
Fans lined up for hours to get their hands on some exclusive merch, some spending thousands
Beyonce got the chance to enjoy a Hot Lap, driven by the legendary Lewis Hamilton
In truth, it is no real surprise to see Formula 1 fans get their credit cards out for a big weekend. It is a notoriously elite sport, and that is shown by the wealth of VIP options around the track.
Along the main straight between turns 13 and 14, Hilton Grand Vacations have an exclusive area at their Elara hotel.
Over three days, fans enjoyed the entertainment from a bucket-list-worthy clubhouse directly next to the track, with all-inclusive food and drink and performances from the likes of Boyz II Men and DJ Brooke Evers.
Further round the track, Aston Martin and Glenfiddich have rented out the balcony at Ocean Prime for their own luxurious weekend of entertainment.
Guests are served freshly-cooked sushi and steak as they peer over perhaps the most exciting turn of the track, with drivers brushing the wall as they pass through at a barely-believable speed.
In truth, no matter where you are in the city, you're close to some kind of celeb-filled sponsor event.
An example: Where else but Las Vegas could you find Paris Hilton, Druski and T-Pain at 11am on a Thursday, all in aid of T-Mobile launching their new '15 Minutes to Better' campaign.
Decked out in full hot pink, Hilton stole the show, posing with a T-Mobile-branded Formula 1 car and joining the likes of actress Madelaine Petsch and model Brooks Nader.
Lando Norris (left), George Russell (center) and Verstappen spray champagne on the podium
Cynthia Erivo sits in the cockpit of the Williams; she was among the A-list guests at the race
Travis Scott crouches alongside Verstappen's Red Bull, which went on to win the race
The Vegas F1 race is three years into its existence, but its appeal is set to extend long into the future.
The presence of two of President Trump's closest allies, as well as some of the biggest superstars in the world, shows the importance of the sport in these parts. The Vegas Grand Prix is an event to see, and be seen at.
Currently, its contract is through 2027, but a much longer agreement is under discussion - with 2032 and 2037 two end dates being touted.
After the success of the first three, and all the glitz, glamor and star power it attracts, don't be surprised to see this race extend long into the future.
