Lewis Hamilton has hit back at detractors of the Las Vegas Grand Prix following high-profile public criticism from Max Verstappen.
Formula One returns to Sin City this weekend for the first time in four decades with an expensive new race which will take place on a Saturday night.
As well as being thrust into a controversial new time slot, the street race will head down the famous Las Vegas Strip and pass several famous landmarks including Caesars Palace, the Bellagio and the Venetian.
But all the typical glitz and glamour of a Las Vegas event has not gone down well with some, most notably Verstappen, who said he felt like a "clown" during Wednesday's glitzy opening ceremony that featured no shortage of show business might.
The reigning F1 world champion said the race was “99 per cent show and 1 per cent sporting event”, while he also dismissed the 6.2km, 17-turn new Las Vegas Strip circuit as "not interesting".
However, Mercedes rival Hamilton has praised the experience and the sport's general direction under owners Liberty Media, who are keen to exploit F1's surging interest in America with a third race on US soil and New York and Los Angeles also further options for the future.
"I hear there are a lot of people complaining about the direction that (F1 CEO) Stefano (Domenicali) and Liberty has gone. But they are doing an amazing job," Hamilton said on Thursday.
"The sport continues to grow. It is a business and you will still see good racing here. It is a country to tap into and really captivate the audience.
"We needed to have at least two races in the US, one wasn't enough, and this is one of the most iconic and unique cities that they have here.
"It is a big show for sure, and it is never going to be like Silverstone, but maybe over time, the people in this community will grow to love the sport.
"It is a big show and maybe over time, the people in this community will grow to love the sport"
"Maybe the track will be good, and maybe it will be bad. It was so-so on the simulator. But don't knock it until you try it."
On the Vegas track itself, Hamilton added: "From a racer's perspective, you want to have the best show here.
"If the track provides a race like Baku - which is one of the best races with lots of overtaking - than that would be amazing, rather than just one car disappearing into the distance.
"Everybody I know in Hollywood is coming and there will be a lot of business going on this weekend.
"It will be a good spectacle to watch, even for those back home who have never been to Vegas. They will get to learn what it is all about."
