Formula One: Max Verstappen Seeks to Make History in Las Vegas

Formula One: Max Verstappen Seeks to Make History in Las Vegas

Verstappen’s Quest for a Fourth Consecutive Title

Max Verstappen will become just the sixth man in Formula One history to win four world championship titles if he can see off his friend and rival Lando Norris at the Las Vegas Grand Prix this weekend. Red Bull’s three-time champion, who ended a 10-race winless drought by storming to victory from 17th on the grid in Brazil three weeks ago, needs only to stay ahead of Norris, or keep the McLaren driver out of the top eight finishers, to retain his crown.

A Return to Form

After a blistering start to the season which saw him win seven of the first 10 races, Verstappen suffered a dip that saw his aggressive racing style called into question. However, a return to form in Brazil and the experience of having won on the garish streets of Sin City in the inaugural Las Vegas event last year makes Verstappen a clear favourite to take his fourth title in consecutive years.

"We performed well here last year," said Verstappen. "It’s a really fast circuit with long straights and a lot of overtaking opportunities."

Mclaren’s Challenge

McLaren, however, seeking a first constructors’ title since 1998, will aim to postpone the seemingly inevitable as the F1 circus enters a triple-header finale to the season with races to follow in Qatar and Abu Dhabi on Dec 1 and 8. McLaren lead the teams’ title race with 593 ahead of Ferrari on 557 and Red Bull on 544.

Norris’ Task

Norris will have to beat Verstappen and finish in the top eight to keep his challenge alive – but with the constructors’ title up for grabs, he will race with clear instructions not to take excessive risks after crashing out last year and flopping in Brazil where he finished sixth after starting from pole in a rain-hit race.

"We’ll be under the lights in Las Vegas," said Norris referring to the scheduled Saturday night starting time. "Driving along the ‘Strip’ is cool and I’m looking forward to racing there. We’ve had a good car this year and I can’t wait to see what we can do there."

Zak Brown’s Warning

His McLaren team chief Zak Brown urged Norris to push to the limits, but not exceed them this weekend following two flashpoint battles between the pair in Texas and Mexico.

"He drove brilliantly in Austin and the only thing he could have done differently would have been to drive into Max’s car, but that’s not our style, nor is it Lando’s," he said, recalling a controversial clash between the pair. "Lando drives hard, but fair but Max pushes the rules to the limit. You have to show him where the limits are and if that’s not done, there will be scenes like the one between Lewis (Hamilton) and Max in 2021 when Lewis said to himself ‘enough is enough’. I don’t think we want to go back to that."

Conclusion

With so much at stake in America’s famous gambling capital, the Las Vegas Grand Prix promises to be an electrifying finale to the Formula One season. Will Max Verstappen secure his fourth consecutive title, or will Lando Norris pull off a stunning upset? The answer will be revealed on the streets of Las Vegas.

FAQs

Q: What is the current point gap between Verstappen and Norris?
A: Verstappen leads Norris by 62 points.

Q: What are the stakes for McLaren in the Las Vegas Grand Prix?
A: McLaren is seeking a first constructors’ title since 1998 and will aim to postpone the seemingly inevitable as the F1 circus enters a triple-header finale to the season.

Q: What is the schedule for the remaining Formula One races?
A: The Las Vegas Grand Prix will be followed by races in Qatar and Abu Dhabi on Dec 1 and 8, respectively.