In an always entertaining night race at the Las Vegas Grand Prix, Red Bull Racing’s Max Verstappen claimed the win. He crossed the line more than 20 seconds in front of his nearest rival! The race, held on Sunday, showcased the strategic battles and fierce competition among the drivers, particularly between Antonelli, Leclerc, and Piastri.
Verstappen’s performance was nothing short of exceptional. Beyond claiming that victory, he put up the fastest lap of the race. This performance put an exclamation point on his dominance of the entire tournament. His stop was just 3.0 seconds, giving him the opportunity to keep his lead without much concern.
Antonelli, fighting for the first podium of his career, quickly placed himself in a dangerous spot. After starting the race in fourth, he scrapped for the lead on old tires. Unfortunately for him, he was served a five-second penalty that placed his position in jeopardy. Despite these challenges, he managed to stay more than five seconds ahead of Charles Leclerc, who was pushing hard for a better position.
Throughout the race, Antonelli demonstrated resilience. He expertly passed Fernando Alonso and built a comfortable lead. This provided him a buffer when Oscar Piastri – running in fifth place – abruptly began to reel him in. For a short period during the early laps, Piastri was past Antonelli. It only took Antonelli a few moments to collect himself and gap the field again.
At the same time, Lando Norris had been ordered to pass George Russell in a calculated move by his own team to get him ahead. Funny enough, this maneuver followed Norris’ own pit stop that briefly hampered his championship charge. Not only did Norris hang with Verstappen, he stayed in the mix throughout the race. He could not outrun him and came in second place.
Piastri’s run to fifth was nothing short of remarkable. At one of the times in the race, he set the fastest lap, and he maintained that position! His last attack on Antonelli was an impressive but ultimately futile demonstration of Gottfried’s artistry and guts — he just couldn’t pull off the pass he needed.
Verstappen’s considerable lead and fast single-pit strategy ensured a maneuverable race for him from the green flag to the checkered. He wasn’t done there, as he built a lead of more than 20 seconds on Norris. This extraordinary accomplishment further solidified his claim as the baddest driver on the Formula 1 circuit.