- Las Vegas is bracing itself for this weekend’s star-studded Formula 1 Grand Prix
- Some of the best drivers in the world arrived for Wednesday’s opening ceremony
- DailyMail.com provides all the latest international sports news
Just a few days out from the city’s first race for 41 years, some of the biggest names in the world of Formula One arrived for the Las Vegas Grand Prix’s opening ceremony on Wednesday night.
The likes of Max Verstappen, Lewis Hamilton, Lando Norris are poised to collide in the penultimate Grand Prix of the season on Sunday, which also marks the first to take place in Sin City since 1982.
And in typical Vegas style, there was a big party to officially get the weekend’s racing festival underway.
Kylie Minogue headlined a glitzy opening ceremony, with the pop star one of several singers to perform on Wednesday night.
Other acts included Tiesto, John Legend, Journey, Keith Urban, Jared Leto, Steve Aoki, J Balvin and Andra Day.
Earlier in the evening, several F1 stars were seen arriving at the ceremony as they soaked up the Vegas atmosphere.
Seven-time world champion Hamilton rocked up while looking the part in a stylish black overcoat, gold jewelry, black boots and suave black-and-orange shades.
His Mercedes teammate George Russell certainly turned on the style at the grand opening, opting for a special Las Vegas Grand Prix jacket to accompany black sunglasses and a new slick hairstyle.
The likes of Lando Norris, Pierre Gasly and Carlos Sainz – who won Tuesday’s Netflix Cup golf tournament – were also seen arriving for the opening ceremony.
Red Bull and Mercedes team principals Christian Horner and Toto Wolff – accompanied by their wives Geri and Susie – were among the F1 team members spotted attending Wednesday’s event.
Later in the weekend, Minogue will also perform at Amber Lounge’s afterparty, held at the Voltaire at The Venetian Resort.
Famous chef Gordon Ramsay is another big name in Sin City this weekend to take in the races.
He will attend a trackside dinner with guests at Hell’s Kitchen at Caesars Palace on Thursday, Page Six said.
David Beckham, Shaquille O’Neal and Kylie Minogue will be among those in attendance for the second to last race of the season for what will be a stunning spectacle.
According to Page Six, the Margaritaville location at Flamingo has been turned into ‘Club SI’ by Sports Illustrated – with Beckham and O’Neal set to host and interact with guests on Saturday night.
Actor Dax Shepard is also expected to record a live episode of his podcast, ‘Armchair Expert,’ there.
Vegas officials also revealed that the famous Sphere has been taken over by this weekend’s Grand Prix and will be used to show driver introductions, live pole positions and fans around the track during the events taking place throughout the week.
‘Sphere’s Exosphere doesn’t just complement the Las Vegas Strip Circuit, it elevates it to new heights, turning every lap into a mesmerizing experience for fans in attendance and watching on TV globally,’ said Las Vegas Grand Prix Chief Commercial Officer Emily Prazer.
‘Picture real-time pole positions, thrilling podium celebrations, and a dynamic showcase of all 20 drivers and their iconic cars displayed larger-than-life. We are excited to have Sphere at the heart of race weekend.’
The race will be the first live event that will feature the Sphere as part of the official broadcast, although it has been used in conjunction with events like the NBA Summer League and has also been seen showing starting lineups ahead of New York Knicks games on occasion.
Olivia Martin is a dedicated sports journalist based in the UK. With a passion for various athletic disciplines, she covers everything from major league championships to local sports events, delivering up-to-the-minute updates and in-depth analysis.
