Verstappen Secures Las Vegas Grand Prix Victory, Extends Championship Lead
LAS VEGAS – Max Verstappen of Red Bull Racing dominated the inaugural Las Vegas Grand Prix Saturday night, further solidifying his position at the top of the Formula 1 World Championship standings. The win marks verstappen’s 19th of the 2024 season, continuing a record-breaking campaign. Lando Norris finished second, while Charles Leclerc rounded out the podium in third.
Verstappen’s victory, coupled with a challenging race for his rivals, significantly increases his points advantage in the championship battle. While Verstappen has already clinched the 2024 title, the Las Vegas result underscores his ongoing dominance and sets the stage for a potentially decisive final few races. Lando Norris’s second-place finish, however, allows him to close the gap on Leclerc in the fight for second place in the driver’s championship.
The race saw several key moments, including a late surge from mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli, who ultimately finished fifth after receiving a five-second jump start penalty. Oscar Piastri, starting fifth, navigated a chaotic Turn 1 collision with Racing Bulls driver Liam Lawson and ultimately secured fourth place thanks to a well-executed pit stop strategy.
Ferrari endured a frustrating weekend despite Lewis Hamilton’s impressive recovery drive from the back of the grid to tenth. The team, anticipating this race as a potential final opportunity for a 2024 grand prix victory, saw both Charles Leclerc and Hamilton fall short of expectations. Leclerc finished sixth, while Hamilton’s tenth-place finish highlighted Ferrari’s struggles.
Further down the order, Carlos Sainz of Williams finished seventh, followed by Racing Bulls rookie Isack Hadjar in eighth and Sauber’s Nico Hülkenberg in ninth.The race concluded a thrilling weekend of Formula 1 action in Las Vegas, marking the sport’s return to the city after a 40-year absence. The championship now moves on to the next race, where Verstappen will look to continue his winning streak and further cement his legacy in the sport.
