Victorious Verstappen Soars in Sensational Las Vegas Race
Max Verstappen dominates the Las Vegas Grand Prix, showcasing his unparalleled racing skills Despite initial disinterest, he proves his mettle with a thrilling victory, leaving no room for doubt
After expressing disinterest in the Las Vegas Grand Prix during its build-up, Max Verstappen finally backed up his words with actions on Saturday. The Red Bull driver, donning a race suit inspired by Elvis Presley, claimed victory in the Formula One race. As he crossed the finish line, he joyfully sang Elvis' iconic "Viva Las Vegas" song, implying that he couldn't resist the allure of Sin City after an exhilarating night race illuminated by vibrant lights.
A lot has been written about the Grand Prix, the first one in Vegas since the 1980s, and not all of it was positive. The initial practice session had to be called off due to a loose drain cover, and Verstappen caused a stir by calling the event "99% show, 1% sport."
However, once the race began, it proved to be thrilling. Verstappen, a three-time world champion, dominated and claimed his 18th win of the season, extending his record. Additionally, his Red Bull team achieved a new single-season record with their 20th race victory.
Max Verstappen celebrates with the trophy on the podium.
Verstappen further solidified his position as a trailblazer in the world of Formula 1 racing by achieving an exceptional feat. He is now the first racer in history to clinch victory in three races within the same country during a single season, having already emerged triumphant in both Austin and Miami. Furthermore, his exceptional track record has propelled him to the third place on the all-time list for career victories, placing him on par with Sebastian Vettel and trailing behind only the legendary names of Michael Schumacher and Lewis Hamilton.
In contrast to previous races, Verstappen did not have an easy victory this time. Although he started in second position on the grid, it was only on lap 37 that he managed to overtake Charles Leclerc from Ferrari and take the lead. Verstappen's race was initially affected by a five-second penalty for pushing Leclerc off the track at the start, but he ultimately regained control towards the end, despite a damaged front wing from a late clash with George Russell and multiple safety car appearances.
Verstappen expressed that the race was incredibly enjoyable. He explained to reporters that it was a challenging one, as he attempted to overtake Leclerc at Turn 1. Verstappen admitted that both he and Leclerc braked late, resulting in a loss of traction and going slightly off track, leading the stewards to penalize him for the incident.
Leclerc secured his fifth podium finish of the season by finishing in second place. On the final lap, he impressively overtook Sergio Perez, preventing Red Bull from achieving a one-two finish. Despite this, Perez did secure second place in the drivers championship, leading to Red Bull's first ever one-two finish in the championship.
David Beckham was one of the stars in attendance.
Mercedes had another underwhelming showing, as Hamilton finished in seventh place and Russell in eighth. Russell's actions led to a safety car intervention and he received a five-second penalty for colliding with Verstappen.
Plenty of celebrities, including former England soccer captain David Beckham and Hollywood actor Brad Pitt, were in attendance, as expected. Pop star Justin Bieber added even more excitement to the already glamorous weekend by waving the chequered flag. Verstappen expressed his joy and anticipation for coming back next year and aiming to replicate the memorable experience.
