Dutch driver Max Verstappen (Red Bull) won the Formula 1 Grand Prix of Las Vegas this Sunday, the penultimate race of the season, on a day when Mexican Sérgio Pérez (Red Bull) finished second.
Verstappen completed the 50 laps of the American circuit in 1:29.08.289 hours, leaving Monegasque Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) in second place, at 2.070 seconds, and Pérez in third, at 2.241.
This result allowed the Mexican to now guarantee second place in the championship, behind his teammate, who had previously secured his third consecutive world title.
Verstappen took advantage of this Las Vegas trip to continue writing his name in the history books, as he became the first driver to win three races in the same country in the same season (he had already won in Austin and Miami).
He also extended the record for wins in the same season, which he already held, reaching 18 wins this year. A number that also allowed him to equal German Sebastian Vettel in third place among the most successful drivers ever, with 53 victories, just behind Michael Schumacher (91) and Lewis Hamilton (103).
Coming from second place on the grid, behind Leclerc (the Spaniard Carlos Sainz was relegated from second to 12th in the second Ferrari after having to change parts of his car on Friday due to an accident with a manhole cover), Verstappen achieved the inside of the first bend.
However, the streets of Las Vegas allowed little grip and he had to go wide, taking Leclerc with him, in a move that earned him a five-second time penalty.
The champion tried to gain a safe distance, but the medium tires started to lose their effectiveness, unlike what happened to the Ferraris, and he was eventually overtaken by Leclerc.
Red Bull took the opportunity to stop its driver and install hard tires while also serving the five-second time penalty.
Verstappen returned to the track quite late, but at a high pace, just like Sérgio Pérez, who battled for the lead with Leclerc.
Until the Dutchman overtook Briton George Russell (Mercedes) on lap 27, who swerved to the inside of the corner and hit Verstappen’s Red Bull, damaging the front wing of the champion car. He ultimately received a five-second penalty and dropped from fourth to eighth place.
The debris left on the track forced the safety car onto the track for a second time (the first was due to a crash by McLaren’s Lando Norris).
Red Bull took the opportunity to change Verstappen’s tires again (they continued with hard tyres), while Ferrari opted to keep Leclerc on track and ensure they retained their first position.
But it was short-lived as a final attack allowed Verstappen to take the lead with thirteen laps to go.
Even Pérez managed to pass Leclerc and reach second place, which he would lose to the Monegasque on the last lap.
“It was fun,” said Verstappen, who was critical of the entire involvement of this race all weekend.
The Dutchman, already champion, achieved 549 points, compared to the 273 of Pérez, who finished second with one race to go. The British Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes), who finished seventh today, is third with 232.
When all that remains is to take part in the Abu Dhabi GP next Sunday, all that remains is to decide fourth place in an Iberian duel, as Carlos Sainz and Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) are level on points. with 200 points.
Source: DN
