The ceremony that preceded the F1 podium presentation in Las Vegas turned into a full-scale entertainment show thanks to the appearance of Mickey Mouse, but the spectacle also raised a few doubts. Max Verstappen claimed victory in the third-to-last round of the Formula 1 World Championship in Las Vegas, finishing ahead of Lando Norris and George Russell. However, at the end of the Grand Prix, both McLaren cars were disqualified due to excessive plank wear. It was an issue already familiar in the paddock, as both Ferraris were disqualified earlier in the season for the same reason.
Following the double disqualification, the championship standings were completely reshuffled, and Verstappen now sits just 24 points behind Norris. Before all of that unfolded, though, Mickey Mouse stole the spotlight for a few minutes, taking centre stage with a special show that briefly diverted all attention away from the F1 drivers.
Las Vegas turns the pre-podium ceremony into a unique show
For this year’s Las Vegas Grand Prix, the organisers created a one-of-a-kind spectacle. Even before the podium celebrations began, the top three finishers were featured in a fun parade aboard a car built entirely from LEGO bricks and driven by a special guest: actor and entertainer Terry Crews.
The controversy
Water effects, lights, fireworks and drones lit up the scene in front of the iconic Bellagio Hotel, setting the atmosphere ablaze in Las Vegas immediately after the race and right after the interviews with the top three drivers. Mickey Mouse was presented as the “director” of the show, celebrating the collaboration between Disney and Formula 1.
However, doubts began to emerge yesterday. A video posted on social media by a guest staying near the hotel in Sin City showed something unusual. The guest first filmed their television broadcasting the F1 channel, where the spectacular light and water show was airing. Moments later, they pointed the camera outside the window—only to reveal that no show was actually taking place. There were no lights, no fireworks and no effects visible on the Bellagio fountains.
Everything being shown on television, which appeared to viewers as a live performance, was in reality pre-recorded footage that was later broadcast as if it were happening in real time. The discovery sparked a wave of debate among fans and viewers, who questioned why the Las Vegas Grand Prix chose to present a pre-produced show instead of a live one.
The entire Mickey Mouse-conducted spectacle that millions watched around the world had been pre-recorded hours earlier and played out as if it were unfolding in real time, leaving many fans feeling cheated by the manufactured magic of Sin City.
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