Nothing or almost nothing can prevent the triumphant march of Max Verstappen. Neither the manhole covers and other controversies which escort the return of Formula 1 to Las Vegas after 41 years of absence, nor its opponents, nor its hatred of a boring circuit. The Dutchman (Red Bull), already assured of a third world champion title, won the Grand Prix held in Nevada. This is his 18th victory in 21 races this season.
For the great return of F1 to the city of gambling and vice, 41 years after the Caesars Palace Grand Prix, Verstappen beat the Ferrari of Charles Leclerc, who started in pole position, and the second Red Bull of Sergio Perez, who will be vice-world champion at the end of the season.
Starting in pole position, Leclerc was overtaken at the first turn by Verstappen thanks to an illegal maneuver, punished with a 5-second stop later by the stewards. Returning to the lead on the 16th lap (out of 50), Leclerc definitively gave in to the Dutchman on the 37th lap. “Viva Las Vegas,” Verstappen sang on his radio after crossing the line under the checkered flag held by Justin Bieber. Starting 16th on the grid, Frenchman Esteban Ocon ranks 4th.
See you in Abu Dhabi for the last of the season
The Dutchman, however, widely criticized the holding of the race in the city of gaming during the week, deploring the quality of the circuit and the place of the show in relation to the sporting aspect. “It’s 99 percent of the show and one percent of the sport,” he said a few days earlier, cooling the atmosphere a little on the sidelines of the opening ceremony of the event held on Wednesday, between concerts and drone show.
“It doesn’t give me a lot of emotion to be honest. I am always focused on performance, I don’t really like everything around,” added the driver who is crushing the championship.
In the constructors’ standings, Ferrari returned to within four points of Mercedes for 2nd place behind Red Bull, already titled, before the 22nd and final Grand Prix of the season which will take place next week in Abu Dhabi.
