2Hamilton finished the race in seventhCredit: Reuters

The Red Bull ace had said it was more National League than Champions League and lashed out after the cringeworthy Superbowl-style opening ceremony.

But Hamilton, a long-term supporter of the Las Vegas Grand Prix, said: “I’m really, really happy to have had a positive race and I’m really grateful the race was so good.

“I really wasn’t expecting the track to be so great but the more and more laps you did I just really loved racing it.

“Lots of great overtaking opportunities and I think for all those who were so negative about the weekend, saying it was all about show blah blah blah, I think Vegas proved them wrong.”

Hamilton said the thrilling race proves that F1 can sustain three races in the US, as Vegas joins Miami and Austin on the calendar.

He added: “There has been criticism about having three races in the United States, and people talking about bringing back old classics from Europe.

“But this has provided a better race than most of the tracks we go to. Hats off to the people who ran the show.

“I cannot wait to come back and hopefully have a better race next year. I am really grateful to Vegas for having us.”