The Formula 1 world turns its attention to the highly anticipated Las Vegas Grand Prix, where Max Verstappen is on the brink of securing his fourth consecutive world championship.
A Season of Highs and Lows for Verstappen
While Verstappen’s dominance in 2023 seemed insurmountable, the 2024 season has tested his resilience. After starting strong with 7 wins in the first 10 races, the Dutch driver hit a rough patch, failing to clinch a single victory in the next 10 races. This opened the door for Lando Norris and McLaren to mount a surprising challenge, narrowing the championship gap.
However, Verstappen’s emphatic win at Interlagos has all but sealed the championship. With a 62-point lead and only three races remaining, the odds are firmly in Verstappen’s favor.
The Battle for Team Supremacy
While Verstappen’s title seems inevitable, the team championship is heating up. McLaren leads the standings with 593 points, closely followed by Ferrari (557 points) and Red Bull (544 points).
McLaren: With Las Vegas’ high-speed layout, McLaren’s MCL38 could shine. Norris remains pivotal to the team’s aspirations of holding off Ferrari.
Ferrari: After strong showings in Austin and Mexico, Ferrari has emerged as a serious threat. Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz believe the Las Vegas GP could favor their car, potentially tipping the scales in their favor.
Red Bull: Despite Verstappen’s brilliance, Red Bull faces an uphill task to defend their team championship title.
The Fight for Sixth Place
Further down the standings, a three-way battle for sixth place is intensifying between Alpine (49 points), Haas (46 points), and RB (44 points). Alpine surged from ninth to sixth after a surprise podium finish in Brazil. Haas brought rookie Oliver Bearman back for a challenging race in Brazil, but his P12 finish left the team trailing Alpine. Meanwhile, RB has shown flashes of potential, but consistency remains elusive.
Driver Moves and Future Prospects
As the season winds down, teams are finalizing their 2025 lineups:
Kick Sauber confirmed that both Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu will leave at the end of 2024, making way for Gabriel Bortoleto, the 2023 F3 champion and current F2 leader.
The final available seat for 2025 lies with RB, alongside Yuki Tsunoda. Red Bull is expected to use the remaining races to evaluate potential candidates.
Challenging Conditions Await
Las Vegas GP is set to take place in some of the coldest conditions of the season, with temperatures ranging from 13°C to 16°C. Teams and drivers will need to adapt their strategies to this unique challenge.
The 2024 Formula 1 Heineken Silver Las Vegas Grand Prix promises high-stakes racing, dramatic team battles, and historic achievements. Fans won’t want to miss the action as the curtain begins to close on an exhilarating season.
