World champion Max Verstappen has hit back in the tight Formula 1 title race. Meanwhile, World Championship leader Lando Norris and his McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri are threatened with disqualification.
The floor panels on both Formula 1 cars are thinner than the required 9 millimeters, as a measurement after the race showed. The technical delegate referred the matter to the race stewards. Record world champion Lewis Hamilton was disqualified in China this year for such a rule violation on his Ferrari.
Verstappen had previously celebrated his sixth win of the season in the Red Bull, with which he reduced the gap in the World Cup to Lando Norris to 42 points. The Englishman in second did damage control after a very weak start. George Russell came third in a Mercedes. Oscar Piastri remains the weakest of the three title contenders: the Australian came fourth. Nico Hülkenberg (Emmerich/Sauber) impressed in ninth place.
Follow one disqualification would be serious
However, if the two McLaren drivers were removed from the race in Las Vegas, the consequences in the World Championship battle would be serious: Verstappen would be tied on points with Piastri and only 24 points behind Norris.
Verstappen still has two races and a sprint to displace Norris from the championship lead. The action continues next weekend in Qatar, where a maximum of 33 points can be scored in the penultimate race of the season and the last sprint. The final will take place in Abu Dhabi on December 7th. Norris wanted to be crowned world champion for the first time there at the latest, but the road to get there currently seems very long.
“Try to get the most out of it”
“It’s still a huge gap, but we always try to get the most out of it,” Verstappen, who was in a great mood, said after the race: “We are sticking with this approach and we will see where we stand in Abu Dhabi.” Norris explained that he was initially “a little too motivated” and “made a mistake” – he gave up his lead at the start. “Despite it”he emphasized, “It’s a good result, good points. I’m not too disappointed.” However, disappointment could soon follow,
Norris shows nerves
In Las Vegas, Norris showed nerves for the first time in weeks. “It would be good not to lag behind for too long“Red Bull motorsport consultant Helmut Marko said on Sky. Verstappen will be at the start.”everything on attack” – and this psychological game had an effect: Norris tried to cut off Verstappen’s path. He succeeded, but as a result he missed the turn-in point into the first corner and had to let the Dutchman and, a little later, Russell pass.
Verstappen was initially under pressure from Russell for a few laps, but the Englishman couldn’t follow the defending champion’s pace for too long and quickly slipped out of the DRS window. Russell also complained about problems with the steering wheel. Norris followed a little behind in third and avoided major risks. Probably also to protect the tires.
Hamilton works his way forward
Things were more turbulent further back in the field. Charles Leclerc overtook Piastri, who, like all weekend, couldn’t get going in the McLaren. Record champion Lewis Hamilton worked his way up from last place on the grid; the Englishman also benefited from the wild start phase in his Ferrari with a few collisions and slips from other drivers.
After the pit stops, Verstappen stayed in front, Russell followed ahead of Norris. The McLaren driver asked on the radio how to proceed. The key to cracking Russell was managing the tire correctly, was the answer. Norris should only take the risk at the end.
“Grab Max”
Norris stuck to the instructions and overtook Russell on the long straight without much trouble. But that wasn’t enough for McLaren. “Grab Max”radioed the command post. Verstappen, in turn, received a corresponding warning and increased the pace.
The defending champion thus extended his lead at the top. In the end he was more than 20 seconds ahead of Norris.