FORMULA 1 | Verstappen imposes the law on him in Las Vegas

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Max Verstappen He has spent the week criticizing the initiative of the F1 to promote a Grand Prix in Las Vegasbut at the moment of truth he has once again imposed his law in a race that Red Bull has dominated, given the impotence of Charles Leclerc (Ferrari), who had shone on the Strip circuit in free practice and qualifying and had to settle for second position while the Dutchman sang “Viva Las Vegas” in his celebration. Max has achieved his 53rd victory in F1 and has equaled Sebastian Vettel, while Checo Pérez has completed the podium in the return of the ‘casino city’ to the Formula 1 calendar 40 years later.

Carlos Sainzwho started 12th, hampered by a penalty after the incident with the sewer on the first day, finished sixth after a rough start to the race. Fernando Alonso He hasn’t had it easy either. She has failed at the start, she has touched herself with Bottas and has fallen to the bottom of the grid, but has still managed to climb to ninth place.

chaotic exit

The Las Vegas Grand Prix began with a controversial maneuver by Verstappen, who gained position from polesitter Charles Leclerc but subsequently received a five-second penalty for his action.

[Clasificación del Mundial de Fórmula 1]

Unfortunately, two Spanish drivers went to the back of the grid in a chaotic start in which Fernando Alonso, who started very strongly from ninth position, spun and collided with Bottas, dropping to 19th place, warning of radius of damage to your Aston Martin.

Checo Pérez has also suffered a blow that has forced him to change the nose of his Red Bull, just like Fernando has done. For his part, Carlos Sainz has been involved in the mess at the start and has lost many positions to drop to 18th.

At the opposite end Lance Stroll and Yuki Tsunoda, who started from the last row with soft tires compared to the majority choice by the media, have reached the top 10 after the eventful start.

After the first virtual safety car that allowed Bottas, Alonso and Checo to repair their cars, another strange accident by Lando Norris, who hit the protection barriers on lap 3, led to the second safety car.

Leader sanction

The stewards have announced a penalty of 5” to race leader Max Verstappen for closing Leclerc’s path at the start. “You can give them my regards,” the three-time champion replied ironically on the Red Bull radio, while he continued at his pace, commanding the race.

More than the sanction, what worried Max were his tires, with signs of ‘graining’ that have not gone unnoticed by Leclerc. The Monegasque attacked the Dutchman on lap 16 and overtook him just as Red Bull called its champion to the pits, who had to serve the penalty during his stop and returned to the track in eleventh position.

When the ‘dance’ of stops began, Sainz and Alonso, with hard work, were provisionally placed in fourth and fifth position and Checo has ‘inherited’ the lead of the race with Leclerc in the pits.

Russell’s Touch

Russell and Verstappen collided at turn 12. The British Mercedes driver collided with the side of the Red Bull when Max had already gained the position. The accident has littered the track with carbon fiber remains and has forced the stewards to order a new safety car, which has been especially favorable to Checo and has complicated things for Leclerc, who had just regained control of the race. race after his stop.

Verstappen was able to continue without problems but Russell, who fell to ninth place, received a 5” for his maneuver to the limit. After the incident, Sainz placed tenth, just ahead of Alonso.

[Calenario de la temporada de la Fórmula 1]

Leclerc, overwhelmed

Pérez took advantage of his opportunity with DRS to launch a dazzling attack on Leclerc and take the lead of the race again with 18 laps to go. After the problems with the medium rubber, the two Red Bulls were ‘flying’ on the track with the harder Pirelli compound and Verstappen has come back to be third, in the wake of the Ferrari.

The Monegasque overtook Checo in a mistake by the Mexican, who shortly after was also overtaken by his teammate. Max, with a fast lap, has ‘hunted’ Leclerc with 14 laps remaining in which he has managed his advantage with solvency. Checo managed to overtake the Ferrari, who hit him back on the last lap to finish second, although frustrated after spoiling his best chance of victory of the season.

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Albon went off the line, which allowed Sainz (9th) and Alonso (10th) to gain a place, who had Russell in front of them, threatened by his sanction and with a worse pace. The British has served his sanction and after an error by Piastri, Sainz was able to complete the race in sixth final position, with Alonso ninth, minimizing damage.

The World Championship will bring the curtain down next week at the Abu Dhabi GP and whatever happens, with Max Verstappen’s absolute record of victories, who today added the 18th of the course to his record.



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