Home straight for the Formula 1 season, and first title shot for Max Verstappen! The Dutchman has a first chance to retain his world crown this weekend in Las Vegas, against his last rival, Lando Norris.
In the splendor of the streets of the gaming city, which launch the final marathon of three Grands Prix in three weeks, with Qatar then the final meeting of the year at the beginning of December in Abu Dhabi, “Super Max” can be offer its fourth consecutive title in the premier category of motorsport.
To get there, he just needs to get ahead of Briton Lando Norris at the finish of the Grand Prix. If he finished behind his competitor, Verstappen should not give up more than two points to the McLaren driver, while 60 points will remain to be distributed at the end of this 22e round of the season.
Verstappen wants to be “realistic”
Asked on Wednesday evening about his chances of winning the title this weekend, the 27-year-old Red Bull driver preferred to tone it down: “It's not because we won in the rain in Brazil (scene of the last GP which he won after more than four months without a victory) that everything suddenly fell into place”.
“It put me in a good position for the championship, but I also have to be realistic that we are still not the fastest”he also said.
Norris bets on Ferrari in Vegas
If there is almost no doubt that Verstappen will retain his crown this year, on the other hand, among the constructors, everything remains to be played for since the three leading teams are separated by only 49 points. McLaren (593 points), which became the leading force on the field in mid-September, is 36 points ahead of Ferrari, second with 557 points – while Red Bull (544 pt) completes the provisional top 3.
“We know that Vegas is probably a circuit that will suit Ferrari moreNorris anticipated on Wednesday. He suited them well last year, and we also know that Qatar may be more favorable to us. » Behind, fourth place seems acquired by Mercedes (382 pt), fifth by Aston Martin (86 pt).
Alpine, propelled to 6e place (out of 10) in the championship with 49 points thanks to a strategic winning move during the Brazilian GP, will try to maintain its rank, even if it is only three points ahead of Haas (46 pt) and five on Racing Bulls (44 pt). “We face an exciting strugglesavors his French pilot Pierre Gasly. We are leading the group at the moment, but we know the battle ahead will be tough […] we want to stay 6ethere’s a lot of money at stake.”
The stakes are indeed high, since the final classification of the season determines the share of F1 revenues paid to the teams: the better they are classified, the higher their bonuses.
Beware of the unexpected
For the return of the Las Vegas GP last year, more than forty years after the first two races, Verstappen showed little enthusiasm for an event geared towards show business at the end of which he had won. “I now understand why we are here in terms of business and racingrecognized the person concerned on the eve of the first free practice sessions – which showed the Mercedes in good form. Is this my favorite circuit on the calendar? No, but everyone has their favorite circuits. »
“I hope there won’t be any problems this year”quipped Carlos Sainz who, last year, suffered the wrath of a poorly sealed manhole cover, heavily damaging his Ferrari.
The Grand Prix will take place not on Sunday as usual, but this Saturday and at night, with a start at 10 p.m. (7 a.m. Sunday, Paris time) in the heart of the famous Strip, where particularly cool temperatures are expected – which will certainly complicate the use of tires.
