2023-11-19 07:47:58
The Red Bull driver from the Netherlands won the entertaining Grand Prix under the floodlights of the US gambling metropolis on Saturday evening (local time) ahead of Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc and Sergio Perez in the second Red Bull. With his 53rd GP success, Verstappen moved into the 21st . and penultimate race of the season in the best list with Sebastian Vettel in third place.
Perez prematurely runner-up world champion
Only Lewis Hamilton (103) and Michael Schumacher (91) were on the top podium more often in the premier motorsport class. Perez, who gave up the Red Bull double victory in the last lap, was crowned runner-up in the first race in Las Vegas in 41 years, thus fulfilling the Austrian-British racing team’s big goal. At the season finale in Abu Dhabi next weekend, the Mexican can no longer be displaced by Hamilton.
The Mercedes driver had to settle for seventh place in rights holder Liberty Media’s prestigious project following a collision. In the constructors’ championship, Ferrari gained a few points once more in the duel with Mercedes for second place.
Verstappen, a big critic of the newly introduced Formula 1 spectacle in Nevada, sang “Viva Las Vegas” by music legend Elvis Presley in a joyful voice on the pit radio. Red Bull team boss Christian Horner spoke of a “royal flush” following the third victory in the third US race this season. The three top drivers were then chauffeured together in the back seat of a luxury car to the award ceremony.
A large number of prominent actors, musicians and sports greats such as Shaquille O’Neal, David Beckham, Lindsey Vonn and FIFA President Gianni Infantino did not miss the motor spectacle in the Mojave Desert. Before the third race in Las Vegas following 1981 and 1982, when the premier class of motorsport made two unsuccessful attempts to establish a Grand Prix in the gambling stronghold, everyone was waiting for the duel between pole-sitter Leclerc and Verstappen in second place. The triple champion got off to a slightly better start and passed the inside of the first corner with an aggressive maneuver.
Leclerc was annoyed on the pit radio. “He pushed me out, that’s a joke. He has to give me back the position,” said the Monegasque. Meanwhile, Fernando Alonso spun in the Aston Martin without any outside influence in the first corner in cool track temperatures. Ferrari’s unlucky Carlos Sainz, who had to start the race from twelfth place on the grid following finishing second in qualifying due to a penalty through no fault of his own, also fell back to the end of the field and ultimately finished sixth. Perez, who like Verstappen wore a racing suit in the style of Elvis, also had to start catching up.
On the third lap, Lando Norris lost his McLaren and hit the barriers hard. The first safety car of the race was the result, and following the restart Verstappen confidently defended his lead. Then the stewards intervened in the race and handed Verstappen a five-second penalty. The Red Bull star pushed Leclerc off the track. “Yes, that’s okay. Send them best regards,” Verstappen said somewhat ironically on the radio to his race engineer.
On the rather monotonous street circuit, which largely lacked spectacular TV images due to the high fences, Leclerc kept the distance from his Red Bull rival. On the 16th of 50 laps, the Ferrari driver passed Verstappen on the track. Verstappen fell behind Russell following the extended pit stop due to the penalty. Hamilton collided slightly with McLaren driver Oscar Piastri and suffered a puncture. Halfway through the race, Verstappen crashed during an overtaking maneuver with Russell and the safety car was deployed once more.
In the new ranking, Perez was suddenly in second place behind Leclerc with fresher tires and passed the Ferrari on the 32nd lap. Three revolutions later, Leclerc regained the top position. Verstappen, who had temporarily fallen back to fifth place, stalked the leading duo and was back in the lead shortly followingwards. Seven laps before the end, Leclerc braked and gave Perez second place, before Leclerc braked past the Red Bull driver once more shortly before the end of the race. Musician Justin Bieber waved the checkered flag.
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