The Big Cat Showed Their Teeth With Las Vegas Flagship Opening
One of the most anticipated, controversial and glitzy Grand Prix races on the Formula 1 calendar is Las Vegas, and took the opportunity to show their teeth in a big way with the opening of their second North American flagship. The Big Cat made sure every member of the Tifosi, Team LH, Orange Army and regular Vegas punters knew their relationship with , with drivers Alex Albon, Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz in attendance at the flagship throughout the weekend. The colossal 25,000 square foot brick-and-mortar opened ahead of the weekend, hosting a thumping party with three stories of activations and an epic array of product.
were on the ground for the store's opening party, bringing together the motorsport, fashion and sneaker communities. The was at the centre, with the low-profile model's prosperous run the talk of the town and pairs spotted on-foot as far as the eye could see – the classic Ferrari red was an obvious favourite. Displayed alongside the current colourways was an an archive of past variations that flexed why the Speedcat is the most-sold model in PUMA history. 'I’m not surprised by the continued success of the Speedcat,' Thomas Josnik, PUMA’s global director of motorsport said on the iteration's comeback. 'Core trends will always return, and with the low profile trend coming back, it's a great opportunity for PUMA. We own this space. It's authentic to us and it's something that we strongly believe in.' Colourways for 2025 were also on show, and it's clear the Speedcat ain't going anywhere anytime soon.
A barrage of heavy hitter guests was out in force, including a DJ set by Paris Hilton. This 'very Vegas' event helped add even more energy to the already electrifying vibe on the iconic strip. Racing simulators, challenges and special products were available at the new flagship, such as the new Ferrari-branded ‘Desert Sun’ collection.
This was the perfect way to kick off the GP, with the results of the race showing the might of the Big Cat since every driver atop the podium sported their logo. There was an epic Mercedes 1-2, as Lewis Hamilton hit the 'Hammer Time' button and flew through the grid after starting in P10 and Carlos Sainz was also on the podium in third, which was a nice send-off in his third-last race for Ferrari. That's not all though, Max Verstappen closed out the WDC, winning his fourth championship in a row and putting him in the top six drivers who have won at least four world titles.
PUMA have always made motorsport a priority and are one of the leaders in producing innovative racewear, including fireproof suits and footwear. The German brand have been involved in the sport since the 80s and officially since the early 2000s, and they have won a barrage of championships with big names like Fernando Alonso, Kimi Raikkonnen, Lewis Hamilton, Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen. PUMA have stuck with the sport through the peaks and falls of popularity and they are now reaping the rewards of this loyalty as the F1 reaches all-time viewership numbers and heightened pop-cultural clout. In fact, their partnerships have been so successful that the PUMA logo has donned every single World Drivers Champion since 2010!
On the PUMA x F1 partnership, Josnik told us: ‘It's just part of our DNA. We have been in motorsport for more than 20 years. We own certain capabilities, we own competency, and we have the expertise to fulfill the need of a consumer and an athlete. That's something you can’t own overnight – you need to earn your stripes. And that for me is the baseline of our work, we want to make the athlete perform. I mean we have strong commitments and partnerships with some of the biggest teams in the sport.’
As motorsport continues to evolve and reach unprecedented levels of popularity, one thing remains certain – Formula 1 takes pole position in the eyes of the Big Cat. As Josnik states: 'Motorsport is an ever-changing environment and is never boring. Our mission is to craft a strong future and make sure that the footprint and legacy of what PUMA has in motorsport continues and that we constantly challenge ourselves and evolve from the performance side. Our teams are also working very hard on the lifestyle end with how we communicate and how we embrace partnerships. So in that sense, Formula One has been changing so much over the last few years, and we need to be at the forefront of embracing the opportunities that are coming.'
PUMA's latest flagship is now open on the Las Vegas Blvd, so if you're still in town for the GP, stop by!
PUMA Las Vegas Flagship
3755 S Las Vegas Blvd
Las Vegas, NV 89109