Here we are. The penultimate race of the 2023 Formula One season and the first Las Vegas Grand Prix since 1983. Following along via social media over the course of the season, it's been more than evident that a lot of fans, including myself, have been dreading this race. But, all in all, Vegas gave us a show and, more importantly, a fight for the win. Let's recap!
It may be 6am on a Sunday morning here in the UK, but in Las Vegas it's late on a Saturday evening. With cold track temperatures and a short run up from pole to the first corner, this race is expected to cause some mighty chaos. Charles Leclerc has looked strong all weekend thus far in his Ferrari. He starts on pole with Max Verstappen claiming P2 after Carlos Sainz found himself being demoted to twelfth, through no fault of his own. The tyre blankets come off, revealing that the majority of drivers are starting on the mediums, including Leclerc, as he pulls away from his grid slot to start the formation lap. It's all good from Leclerc, who makes it around the formation lap, this time with no issue. Remember last time out in Brazil? He pulls back into his grid slot, the rest of the field following suit. The five lights come on and they're off! Las Vegas is a go!
Verstappen, who get's the better start, battles into turn one alongside Leclerc, pushing the Ferrari driver into the run off. The Red Bull takes the lead. However, chaos starts to unfold in the midfield, with both Spaniards - Sainz and Fernando Alonso, facing the wrong direction after spinning on cold tyres. Other drivers such as Sergio Perez, Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas, also find themselves caught up in the turn one action. As a result, the Virtual Safety Car has been deployed. Alonso reports damage to his car, as Perez pits for a new front wing. Alonso also comes in for a new wing and set of hard tyres.
As the race goes green, Leclerc is venting his turn one frustratins over team radio. "This needs to be addressed now, he pushed me wide, so he needs to give that position back." However, despite the stewards now investigating the incident, Red Bull advise Verstappen to hold the lead, as he continues to extend it.
Another yellow flag, this time there is a car in the barriers. It's Lando Norris in his McLaren. Replays show a high-speed incident where he looses control of the rear before settling in the TecPro. The Brit seems shaken, but ok. The Safety Car is deployed which brings the likes of Sainz, Alonso and Perez back into play. Out front, Verstappen is still ahead of Leclerc who is ahead of George Russell, Pierre Gasly and Alex Albon. It's the end of lap six, an the Safety Car returns to the pits.
Verstappen gets another good get away, leaving Leclerc behind. At the back of the field, Perez, Sainz and Alonso find themselves in a good squabble for sixteenth, seventeenth and eighteenth. However, Verstappen's lead may have just hit turmoil. He's been handed a five second time penalty for forcing another driver off track. Verstappen, informed of the decision, responds with; "Yeah that's fine, send them my regards."
Runners that started on the soft tyre are now starting to struggle. Yuki Tsunoda comes in for his stop for Alpha Tauri, bolting on the medium compound instead. On the otherhand, Perez, in the sister Red Bull, is flying, quickly gaining ground to find himself back in the points and setting the fastest lap of the race. Earlier rival, Sainz, now in fourteenth, is advised by the Ferrari team to cool his car else he may have to call it a day. Logan Sargeant, who started in an incredible sixth, is starting to get swalloed up by the faster cars. He is passed by Esteban Ocon, Oscar Piastri and Lewis Hamilton, over the course of two laps, falling down to ninth.
Back at the front, Leclerc has gained ground on Verstappen and sits within a second of the World Champion. Verstappen is complaining that his tyres are gone. But, before he can pit, Leclerc passes him on track, down the inside at turn fourteen. With that, Verstappen dives into the pitlane, serves his penalty and returns to the track in eleventh. In the meantime, Hamilton makes a move on Piastri at the end of The Strip. However, the two make contact, both looking as if they have damage. "The car's not stopping," Hamilton reports over team radio. It looks as if he has puncture. Both drivers pit for repairs before returning back to the track.
Remember Perez? After pitting at the end of lap one he's now running in second, less than a pitstop behind race leader - Leclerc. But, Leclerc is slower than the Red Bull driver and dives into the pitlane at the end of lap twenty one. After a 3.9 second stop, he returns to the track in third. Perez takes the lead. Verstappen, however, is also flying. He is up to seventh, setting the fastest race lap in the process. After passing Sainz, Verstappen catches up with Russell. He finds himself all over the back of the Mercedes and takes a lunge down in the inside at turn twelve. Disaster. Russell turns in, hitting the Red Bull. Luckily for both there seems to be minimal damage, bar a broken front wing for Verstappen who has been given the ok to stay out. Ahead of the chaos, Leclerc passes Lance Stroll for second. He is back in a position to hunt down Perez for the lead. And, as that happens, the Safety Car is deployed for a second time, while the marshals clean up the debris at turn twelve.
With the Safety Car out, a number of drivers take to the pits. This includes Perez, Stroll, Verstappen, Russell, Sainz and Alonso. The incident between Verstappen and Russell, that caused the Safety Car, is now under investigation, with Russell eventually receiving a five second penalty. The order currently stands as Leclerc, Perez, Gasly, Piastri, Verstappen, Ocon, Stroll, Albon, Russell and Sainz. As the Safety Car makes it way around the circuit preparing for the restart, Leclerc nearly looses it on cold tyres. Luckily for the Ferrari man, he keeps it together and takes the restart after turn sixteen, holding the lead ahead from the squabbling Perez and Gasly. But, going into turn seven, Piastri takes third away from Gasly, giving Perez air to go after the leader.
There is action further down the field with Nico Hulkenberg passing Daniel Ricciardo around the outside of turns three and four. Hamilton, currently running in seventeenth is on team radio, telling them; "the wind has picked up". However, all eyes are on the front runners with Perez all over the back of Leclerc for the lead. He takes a dive into the inside of turn fourteen, stealing the lead from the pole sitter. As for Verstappen, he's on the move also, getting past Piastri for third. The Alpine drivers are also fighting it out for fifth and sixth. Ocon get's past his teammate for fifth but is told to hold to position. Was this radio message before or after the move?
Leclerc is keeping Perez in his sights, staying in close enough range for DRS. Both need to get a move on, as Verstappen is currently pumping in the fastest laps. As I say that, Leclerc gets back ahead of Perez, with a move also at turn fourteen. This gives Verstappen the chance to crawl all over the back of his teammate, making Perez a sitting duck down The Strip, overtaking him before the corner. Now up to second, Verstappen goes after Leclerc. It doesn't take him long however, with the help of The Strip and DRS, he uses turn fourteen as his passing point, taking the lead once again.
Alex Albon is having a relatively quiet race today but his tyres seem to be finished. He looses places to Russell, Sainz, Alonso and Hamilton, falling out of the points in the process. Mercedes team principle; Toto Wolff, comes onto team radio to Russell; "Hunt them down," he tells his driver who is still yet to serve his five second penalty.
Ten laps left to run and, after some encouragement from his race engineer, Verstappen finally brakes the tow from Leclerc, speeding away into clean air. Perez is, yet again, threatening to pass Leclerc, who outbrakes himself into turn fourteen, handing the Red Bull second place. Down at McLaren, Piastri, who has only used one tyre compound thus far, finally pits for the mediums. He returns to the race in twelfth. Another driver falling backwards down the field is Gasly. Hamilton passes the Alpine at the final corner, in what was an impressive overtake at nearly 200mph.
Back up front, Leclerc is back in DRS range of Perez. But, it's still Verstappen in the lead with a nearly five second gap. The yellow flag makes a breif appearance as the Haas of Hulkenberg pulls off the track, retiring from the race. Piastri, on fresh tyres, is flying, setting the new fastest lap of the race - a 1:35.490.
The penultimate lap and other yellow. This time it's Tsunoda with gear box issues. He also pulls off the track. Verstappen, still leading, starts to slow, falling back towards his teammate in an attempt to help him keep second from a faster Leclerc. But, on the last lap, the Ferrari driver goes for it, taking Perez by surprise at turn fourteen. With Leclerc now ahead, Perez holds on, hoping to get P2 back before the finish.
However, it's normality up front, with Verstappen taking the win once again. Around the final corner and it's Leclerc who appears ahead of Perez, taking the second step of the podium by a smidge. Perez has to settle for third. Ocon, in the Alpine, finishes in fourth ahead of Stroll, Sainz and Hamilton. Russell has to settle for eighth after his penalty has been applied, with the points being rounded out by Alonso and Piastri.
With his third place finish, Sergio Perez will clinch second in the Drivers Championship. A first 1-2 for Red Bull in the Drivers Championship ever.
Well, I was very dubious about this race but Vegas, you played well.
Next up we're off to Abu Dhabi for the finale! See you then.
Oh, and remember. "What Verstappens in Vegas, stays in Vegas."
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