Las Vegas GP: 5 Things We Learned

George Russell led a Mercedes one-two as they won the jackpot in Sunday’s Las Vegas Grand Prix. Carlos Sainz finished third and Charles Leclerc fourth in a race that Ferrari could have won with a better strategy and discipline.

All eyes were on Max Verstappen as he needed to outscore Lando Norris in Las Vegas to be a four-time world champion. He did it. The Red Bull was more rapid around the street circuit than the McLaren during the race, and the Dutch driver finished fifth, one spot above the Briton.

He joins Juan Manuel Fangio, Alain Prost, Michael Schumacher, Sebastian Vettel, and Lewis Hamilton as part of an elite group to win four titles.

Here are five key talking points from the Las Vegas GP:

5. Costly Weekend for Williams

Franco Colapinto’s high-impact crash in qualifying, registering 50g, caused significant damage to his car, forcing the mechanics to work through the night to repair a ruined chassis. The financial blow was compounded when Colapinto started from the pit lane and managed only P14.

Alex Albon, meanwhile, was running in the top ten before a power unit issue forced his retirement. The team later discovered a piece of plastic in the radiator had likely caused the problem.

4. Nico Hülkenberg’s Inspired Drive

Hülkenberg delivered an excellent performance for Haas, qualifying ninth and executing a smart two-stop strategy. He overtook Yuki Tsunoda in the Red Bull to finish P8, earning two valuable points for the team.

This result moved Haas one point ahead of Alpine in the Constructors’ Championship. Team principal Ayao Komatsu praised the effort, saying: “I think that’s the best P8 we’ve ever achieved. It wasn’t an easy race to manage, but I’m so happy no one panicked, and everyone stayed calm.”

3. McLaren’s Struggles Continue

The McLaren cars lacked the pace of rivals Ferrari, Mercedes, and Red Bull in Las Vegas. The cold weather appeared to affect their performance, with team boss Andrea Stella commenting: “We had some headaches with car and tyre performance, and we’ll be doing a lot of analysis between here and Lusail.”

Despite the challenges, Norris salvaged an extra point for the fastest lap. Every point counts, as McLaren leads Ferrari by 24 points in the Constructors’ Championship with two races remaining.

2. Mercedes’ Surprise Pace

Mercedes shocked the field with their first one-two finish of the season. George Russell started from pole and controlled the race from the front, while Lewis Hamilton produced a stunning drive from P10 to finish second.

The team dominated every session—practice, qualifying, and the race. The cold temperatures, which dropped as low as 11°C, might explain their strong performance. Team principal Toto Wolff remarked to Sky Sports: “If only one could truly understand these cars!”

Hamilton’s exceptional drive earned him the Driver of the Day accolade.

1. All Hail King Max!

Max Verstappen knew his Red Bull lacked the pace to contend for victory in Las Vegas, but his composed drive to P5 secured his fourth World Championship.

While his dominant performance in Brazil highlighted his raw talent, his race in Las Vegas showcased his maturity, as he delivered under pressure despite the car’s struggles with grip and cornering.