Keith Urban performs during the Formula 1 Heineken Silver Las Vegas Grand Prix opening ceremony Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2023.
Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2023 | 11:47 p.m.
The Formula One Las Vegas Grand Prix is finally here, and it kicked off the three days of festivities and racing with a star-studded lineup.
Fans brought the energy from far and wide as well, even despite the light showers that rained down on the grandstands multiple times during the performances.
Seven red boxes lined the stage area – located right next to the track where the 20 drivers will be starting and ending the race.
“Make some noise!” Jared Leto, frontman for the band Thirty Seconds to Mars, shouted as they first took the stage on one of the red boxes.
They opened with their early 2000’s hit “The Kill (Bury Me)” while decked out in white jumpsuits reminiscent of Formula One drivers’ racing suits.
Just off to the side of the Paddock Club building was a group of color-changing drones creating an array of shapes, including the iconic “Welcome to Las Vegas” sign and a race car.
Some familiar faces could be spotted, like DJs Steve Aoki and Tiёsto as well as John Legend, Keith Urban and Kylie Minogue — all of whom had recent residencies on the Strip.
Each artist got a few minutes to light up the crowd with energetic tunes. Following the rock band was Keith Urban; a “Come Together” cover by R&B singer Andra Day; Kylie Minogue with her F1-jumpsuit-clad backup dancers; a video of Blue Man Group’s paint-splattering drums and Bishop Briggs.
Rock band Journey next launched straight into “Don’t Stop Believing” once the spotlight was theirs. The crowd, despite being slightly wet from the scattered showers, couldn’t resist singing along to the iconic chorus.
And the energy kept increasing as the ceremony hit its final few minutes.
DJ Steve Aoki, also dressed in a jumpsuit, brought his dance set to the Pit Building — filled with the cheers of energetic fans and lit up by purple and green lights. Colombian reggaeton singer J Balvin brought a legion of electric flag-bearing dancers to help him with his song “Dientes.”
From the roof of the Paddock Club, Tiёsto played the final EDM set of the night and even joined John Legend for a surprise remix of Legend’s popular “All of Me.”
Right before the ceremony ended with a blazing firework show from the rooftops of a few nearby resorts, Legend made sure to give everyone the green light with his throwback track featuring André 3000.
The festivities finished with an introduction of the competing teams, who were welcomed by will.i.am and his recently released Formula One track “Let’s Go.”
While tonight was more about ushering in the anticipated grand prix, the real action begins Friday as drivers race in a qualifying round to determine where they’ll start in Saturday’s main event.
Currently, Max Verstappen with Red Bull Racing leads the standings at 524 points. Next in line are Sergio Perez from Mexico, also a Red Bull driver, at 258 points and Lewis Hamilton repping Great Britain for the Mercedes team with 226 points.
