‘High in the car’ – Max Verstappen joins Formula 1 stars speaking out on ‘extreme’ weed at Las Vegas Grand Prix
Max Verstappen joked that he was ‘quite high in the car’ 24 hours before winning his fourth world title at the Las Vegas Grand Prix. The Dutchman won his fourth consecutive World Drivers’ Championship with a 5/20 finish on the grid in the Nevada desert. Verstappen is the fourth man to win four consecutive drivers’ championshipsGetty However, what was more impressive was that it came just a day after Verstappen hilariously claimed he was ‘quite high in the car’. Formula 1 drivers have been discussing the smell of marijuana that has been wreaking havoc on the famous Sin City strip this weekend. “Today you smelled it quite well. I was quite high in the car,” Verstappen joked to Dutch outlet Telegraaf after qualifying. “It’s not ideal, because you can also smell it while driving and it’s quite extreme.” His complaints followed his Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez, who was the first to reference the outbreak of cannabis on Friday. Speaking after his second free practice session, the Mexican said: “What is very noticeable around the circuit is the smell of marijuana throughout the night. “I’m a bit tired of it already — the amount is incredible. It’s something all the drivers will definitely talk about.” Motorsport’s elite invested heavily to end their 24-year absence from the world’s ‘Entertainment Capital’ last season. F1 owners Liberty Media purchased the land for $240million and then forked out a similar amount in construction costs totalling nearly half a billion dollars for a Grand Prix in Las Vegas. As part of being in Vegas, F1 chiefs held the event during the city’s primetime so that the famous skyline would be lit up. Perez was among the F1 stars to voice their concern over the weed smellDAZN However, an unexpected consequence for organisers has been the persistent marijuana smell distracting drivers racing down the strip. Unlike the UK, cannabis is legal for both medical and recreational use in the state of Nevada. Fans attending the race are banned from bringing drugs to the 3.8-mile circuit, but it seems that’s not been enough to clear the air. Williams driver Franco Colapinto joked that inhaling the fumes could cause an epidemic on the grid: “Yes, there was a smell of weed. “If they dope the drivers now, I think we’ll all test positive, I swear – when we all test positive, there will be a mess.” Thankfully, for Red Bull, it didn’t phase their superstar driver as Verstappen’s finish above Lando Norris was enough for him to win the title. The wintery conditions for the night race have carried a bad smellGetty 24-hour dispensaries are open near the Vegas street trackGetty As expected, cannabis is a prohibited substance for F1 drivers as part of the FIA Anti-Doping Regulations from the sport’s governing body. While fans attending the Grand Prix will be following suit, Jade – a cannabis dispensary – is situated mere minutes from the racetrack. The shop even specifically markets itself to F1, with a statement on their website reading: “For the Las Vegas Formula 1 event attendees, the experience can be elevated with cannabis.” Rival chains last year also capitalised on F1’s arrival by offering discounted weed to locals affected by road closures and heavy noise.
Max Verstappen joked that he was ‘quite high in the car’ 24 hours before winning his fourth world title at the Las Vegas Grand Prix.
The Dutchman won his fourth consecutive World Drivers’ Championship with a 5/20 finish on the grid in the Nevada desert.
However, what was more impressive was that it came just a day after Verstappen hilariously claimed he was ‘quite high in the car’.
Formula 1 drivers have been discussing the smell of marijuana that has been wreaking havoc on the famous Sin City strip this weekend.
“Today you smelled it quite well. I was quite high in the car,” Verstappen joked to Dutch outlet Telegraaf after qualifying.
“It’s not ideal, because you can also smell it while driving and it’s quite extreme.”
His complaints followed his Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez, who was the first to reference the outbreak of cannabis on Friday.
Speaking after his second free practice session, the Mexican said: “What is very noticeable around the circuit is the smell of marijuana throughout the night.
“I’m a bit tired of it already — the amount is incredible. It’s something all the drivers will definitely talk about.”
Motorsport’s elite invested heavily to end their 24-year absence from the world’s ‘Entertainment Capital’ last season.
F1 owners Liberty Media purchased the land for $240million and then forked out a similar amount in construction costs totalling nearly half a billion dollars for a Grand Prix in Las Vegas.
As part of being in Vegas, F1 chiefs held the event during the city’s primetime so that the famous skyline would be lit up.
However, an unexpected consequence for organisers has been the persistent marijuana smell distracting drivers racing down the strip.
Unlike the UK, cannabis is legal for both medical and recreational use in the state of Nevada.
Fans attending the race are banned from bringing drugs to the 3.8-mile circuit, but it seems that’s not been enough to clear the air.
Williams driver Franco Colapinto joked that inhaling the fumes could cause an epidemic on the grid: “Yes, there was a smell of weed.
“If they dope the drivers now, I think we’ll all test positive, I swear – when we all test positive, there will be a mess.”
Thankfully, for Red Bull, it didn’t phase their superstar driver as Verstappen’s finish above Lando Norris was enough for him to win the title.
As expected, cannabis is a prohibited substance for F1 drivers as part of the FIA Anti-Doping Regulations from the sport’s governing body.
While fans attending the Grand Prix will be following suit, Jade – a cannabis dispensary – is situated mere minutes from the racetrack.
The shop even specifically markets itself to F1, with a statement on their website reading: “For the Las Vegas Formula 1 event attendees, the experience can be elevated with cannabis.”
Rival chains last year also capitalised on F1’s arrival by offering discounted weed to locals affected by road closures and heavy noise.
