The Las Vegas Grand Prix brought its usual neon buzz in 2025: Max Verstappen claimed victory, McLaren drivers were shockingly disqualified after the race, and Mercedes converted opportunities into a memorable double podium. Off-track spectacle matched the on-track drama — here are eight standout moments.
1) Mercedes joy as Pin wins F1 ACADEMY title
F1 ACADEMY’s season finale in Las Vegas went to the wire. Mercedes driver Doriane Pin secured the 2025 title over Maya Weug after a strong weekend that included a Race 1 win and a fifth-place finish in Race 2. Her Mercedes and PREMA teams celebrated in the pit lane in special “P1N” shirts, joined by figures such as Toto Wolff, George Russell and Kimi Antonelli. The celebrations prefaced a big night for Mercedes on the main card, with Russell and Antonelli finishing a heroic 2–3 after starting fourth and seventeenth.
2) Terry Crews the taxi driver
Actor and F1 fan Terry Crews chauffeured Verstappen, Lando Norris and George Russell in the Las Vegas cooldown car — a bright-pink, life-sized LEGO 1950s Cadillac. Crews entertained the trio with a sing-along recreation of his White Chicks moment, belting “A Thousand Miles,” while the drivers enjoyed the show (and LEGO glasses), producing one of the weekend’s most viral cooldowns.
3) Driving with Disney
Following Formula 1’s announced collaboration with Disney, Mickey and Minnie arrived in the paddock alongside Goofy and Donald Duck. They greeted drivers before the parade and helped deliver Disney-themed moments across the weekend. Franco Colapinto famously proposed to Minnie after meeting her, while the Disneyland Band and Disney star Adrian Lyles performed the US national anthem pre-race. Mickey headlined a Fantasmic!-inspired water and drone show at the Bellagio Fountains, blending classic theme music with the F1 title sequence.
4) Minister Bottas
Valtteri Bottas added a quirky Vegas credit to his weekend resume: officiating a wedding at LEGO’s pop-up chapel. The Mercedes reserve, soon to be associated with Cadillac in fans’ jokes, performed the ceremony for an F1-loving couple who gained an unforgettable story to tell.
5) LEGO and Hello Kitty welcomed to the grid
In Vegas announcements, LEGO Racing was confirmed to join the F1 ACADEMY grid in 2026 with Dutch driver Esmee Kosterman. LEGO’s presence was visible everywhere: podium bouquets made of LEGO, the pink LEGO Cadillac, and a pop-up wedding chapel. Hello Kitty debuted as a new series partner, hosting a Hello Kitty Fanzone, meeting drivers, and even waving the chequered flag after a chaotic F1 ACADEMY Race 1. A collaborated merch line also launched in the F1 Hub.
6) Elvis-fest
No Vegas weekend would be complete without Elvis impersonators. A full lineup of Elvises welcomed teams, drivers and guests at the paddock entrance, maintaining the city’s playful tradition — jumpsuits, sunglasses and sideburns included.
7) A moment for the Las Vegas looks
Special liveries and helmets leaned into the city’s spectacle. Williams, Sauber, Racing Bulls and Alpine unveiled striking Vegas-themed designs with reflective, chrome and neon elements that popped under floodlights. Drivers produced bespoke helmets: Lewis Hamilton and Kimi Antonelli embraced glitter and glam; Esteban Ocon debuted a Marvel-inspired lid; Lando Norris rolled out a bold new paint job; Russell, Yuki Tsunoda and Oscar Piastri went more personal with theirs. The combined fashion and paintwork made the Strip’s visuals as much of a show as the racing.
8) Celebs filled Vegas
Celebrities and sports stars flocked to the Strip. Beyoncé and Jay-Z experienced a Hamilton hot lap in a Ferrari supercar that hit around 320 kph. Cynthia Erivo visited the Williams garage, took a hot lap with Jenson Button and sampled Carlos Sainz’s car. Musicians performing across the weekend included Louis Tomlinson, Kane Brown, Steve Aoki, T-Pain, ZEDD, Dillon Francis, Machine Gun Kelly and more. High-profile attendees spanned sports and entertainment — A’ja Wilson, Jimmy Butler, Sunisa Lee, Taylor Fritz, Blaise Matuidi, Magic Johnson, Damson Idris, Sam Worthington, Jeremy Renner, Mark Wahlberg, Ben Affleck, Michael Douglas, Catherine Zeta-Jones and many others — while Gordon Ramsay was spotted enjoying the hospitality and entertainment.
Las Vegas delivered its usual mix of headline racing and off-track spectacle: dramatic results, headline-making celebrations, brand partnerships, and the kind of pop-culture moments that keep the city on F1’s calendar.