LAS VEGAS (USA) (ITALPRESS) – Max Verstappen (Red Bull) dominates the Las Vegas Grand Prix, the twenty-second season event. Race dominated from the first to the last lap by the Dutch driver, good to take advantage of a deburring in the start of Lando Norris (McLaren) to take charge of the operations. 69th career victory (6th this year, 2nd in the Las Vegas GP) for the four-time world champion, which hits the 125° career podium (13° this year, 8th consecutive), approaching -30 by Michael Schumacher (155, 2nd place of all time behind Hamilton, 202). “It went well. After qualifying, we didn’t know how the tires would behave, but everything went very well. Today we had everything under control and we could push a little more. The machine worked well and every lap I felt more and more comfortable”, the words of Verstappen, who looks positively at the last two exits of the year (Qatar, Abu Dhabi): “I think one race at a time, we will try to get the most out of the car in the coming weekend. I am proud of my team, we had so many ups and downs and we learned so much during the season. It was all very important to return even stronger next year and to fight from the beginning of the year.”.
According to the finish line, Norris was disqualified after the match of the teammate Oscar Piastri, who had finished fourth: the reason lies in the irregularities found on the bottom of the two McLarens, too consumed compared to what allowed by the regulation. A twist of scene that also changes the classification perspectives: Norris remains firm at 390 points, while Verstappen climbs to 366 reaching Piastri. Only 24 points, therefore, now separate Dutch from the British and Australian, with two races still to live. “In the first corner I was a bit aggressive, but maybe I made a mistake. I did a good race, but it wasn’t my best performance, especially if Max (Verstappen, ndr) pulled me 20 seconds. I am in a very positive moment, my step was good, but we were not the fastest today,” said Norris immediately after the race, so before the disqualification. Because of this double disqualification, George Russell climbs second.
“I managed to overcome Charles after the stop and I sacrificed a lot of tires, climbing on the podium was the best possible result for us”, the words of the British, at the 24th career podium (9° in 2025) equagliando Alan Jones, Stirling Moss, John Surtees and Oscar Piastri. On the podium, for the second time in career after Canada, there is also Mercedes partner, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, who crowns an amazing remonta from the 17th position despite a penalty of five seconds due to an early departure. The fourth place is the Ferrari by Charles Leclerc: difficult race for the Monegasco, author of the usual character performance, after an unfortunate contact departing with Fernando Alonso. “Today, in my opinion, I couldn’t do more. I took risks like qualifying in all the laps I did. I’m sorry I missed fifth place for a tenth. It was a difficult race, to overtake I had to take great risks,” explains Leclerc. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari), who cut the finish line in tenth position and, therefore, after the disqualification of McLaren climbs in eighth: “I really want to give the boys and the team a great result for the next races. I think I’ve exhausted my wishes,” says the British. Ferrari that between Qatar (28-30 November) and Abu Dhabi (5-7 December) will go hunting for the first season win, to make less bitter a decidedly difficult year.
“There are still two races to be played, but overall this weekend was not the race pass. We missed a good qualifying round. We must avoid making the same mistakes to try to win a race by the end of the season“, the commentary, the microphones of Sky Sport, the team principal of the team of Maranello Frederic Vasseur. It should be noted that the sharks of Norris and Piastri make Haas smile, which goes to points both with Esteban Ocon, 9°, and with Oliver Bearman, 10°. Formula 1 that will return protagonist in Qatar from 28 to 30 November for the penultimate season appointment.
L’ORDINE DI ARRIVO
1. Max Verstappen (Ned) Red Bull in 1h21’08′′429 at average speed of 229.2 km/h
2. George Russell (Gbr) Mercedes 23′′546
3. Andrea Kimi Antonelli (Ita) Mercedes 30′′′488
4. Charles Leclerc (Mon) Ferrari 30′′′678
5. Carlos Sainz (Esp) Williams 34′′′924
6. Isack Hadjar (Fra) Racing Bulls 45′′257
7. Nico Hulkenberg (Ger) Kick Sauber 51′′134
8. Lewis Hamilton (Gbr) Ferrari 59′′′369
9. Esteban Ocon (Fra) Haas 1’00′′635
10. Oliver Bearman (Gbr) Haas 1’10′′549
11. Fernando Alonso (Esp) Aston Martin 1’25′′308
12. Yuki Tsunoda (Jpn) Red Bull 1’26′974
13. Pierre Gasly (Fra) Alpine 1’31′′′702
14. Liam Lawson (Nzl) Racing Bull 1 round
15. Franco Colapinto (Arg) Alpine 1 round
RIT Alexander Albon (Tha) Williams
RIT Gabriel Bortoleto (Bra) Kick Sauber
RIT Lance Stroll (Can) Aston Martin
Fastest ride: Max Verstappen (Red Bull) in 1’33′′365 at around 50 at an average speed of 239.1 km/h
LE CLASSIFICHE AGGIORNATE
GDP CLASSIFICATION
1. Lando Norris (Gbr) McLaren 390 points
2. Oscar Piastri (Aus) McLaren 366
2. Max Verstappen Red Bull 366
4. George Russell (Gbr) Mercedes 294
5. Charles Leclerc (Mon) Ferrari 226
6. Lewis Hamilton (Gbr) Ferrari 152
7. Andrea Kimi Antonelli (Ita) Mercedes 137
8. Alexander Albon (Tha) Williams 73
9. Isack Hadjar (Fra) Racing Bulls 51
10. Nico Hulkenberg (Ger) Kick Sauber 49
CLASSIFICATION
1. McLaren 756 points
2. Mercedes 431
3. Red Bull 391
4. Ferrari 378
5. Williams 121
6. Racing Bulls 90
7. Haas 73
8. Aston Martin 72
9. Kick Sauber 68
10. Alpine 22nd
– Photos: Ipa Agency –
(ITALPRESS).
