Race Analysis - Wins, challenges, and a champion

Podium, Las Vegas GP 2024
© Mercedes

The Las Vegas Grand Prix was packed with action, drama, and milestones, giving fans plenty to talk about. Mercedes stole the show with a dominant one-two finish, McLaren faced a tough weekend but learned some valuable lessons, and Max Verstappen locked in his fourth world championship in style. The weekend had a bit of everything, from impressive drives to tricky conditions that threw plenty of challenges at the teams.

Mercedes had a weekend to remember, with George Russell putting on a clinic. He grabbed pole position with an incredible lap and followed it up with a clean drive to victory. He fended off Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc in the opening laps, and from there, it was all about controlling the race. Lewis Hamilton, meanwhile, stormed through the field after starting 10th, making it a one-two finish for the Silver Arrows.

The race itself was shaped by tyres, as the expected one-stop strategy went out the window thanks to graining issues. Cars were chewing up their front-right tyres far earlier than expected, forcing teams to adapt on the fly. Ferrari struggled the most with this, as both Leclerc and Carlos Sainz had to pit earlier than they wanted. Their aggressive early pace backfired, and their calls to pit sooner were overruled, costing them valuable track position.

While Ferrari scrambled, Mercedes looked like they were in a league of their own. Russell managed his tyres perfectly, and even though Hamilton was pushing hard to close the gap late in the race, Russell stayed in control. Team boss Toto Wolff said they could have gone even faster if they needed to, showing just how strong their car was on this particular weekend.

For Red Bull, the race wasn’t so much about the win as it was about Max Verstappen sealing the drivers’ championship. His car wasn’t at its best due to a rear wing setup that didn’t suit the track, but Verstappen stayed calm, avoided unnecessary risks, and focused on finishing where he needed to. That smart approach was enough to secure his fourth title.

Verstappen’s season has been nothing short of incredible, and his rivals were quick to give him credit. “Max has been unbelievable all year,” said Hamilton. “He deserves this title.” George Russell called him the driver everyone will be chasing next year, and Charles Leclerc said Verstappen’s ability to always get the most out of his car has been the difference. Even Verstappen’s teammate Sergio Perez, who struggled with the same car, praised him. “This has been the best season I’ve ever seen from a driver,” Perez said. “Max made the difference so many times this year.”

Over at McLaren, it was a weekend to forget in terms of results, but they still came away with some positives. Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri struggled with tyre graining for most of the race, which left them far off the leaders’ pace. Norris eventually finished sixth, with Piastri just behind in seventh. But things got interesting in the final stint when Norris’s team tried something bold.

The engineers made radical changes to the car’s differential settings, which completely changed how it handled. Instead of its usual understeer, the car became more balanced, even leaning toward oversteer in the slow corners. It wasn’t the kind of setup you’d normally see in a race, but it worked under the specific conditions in Vegas. Norris adapted quickly, and for a brief time, he was one of the fastest drivers on the track.

While the changes didn’t improve Norris’s final position, the team learned a lot. McLaren boss Andrea Stella said this stint gave them valuable data for dealing with similar situations in the future. “What we tried was way outside of what we’d normally do,” he said, “but it worked for the conditions, and that’s something we can use going forward.”

The Las Vegas track itself played a big role in how the race unfolded. Its smooth surface, low grip, and cool temperatures created a perfect storm for tyre issues, making it all about who could adapt best. Mercedes thrived, Ferrari struggled, and McLaren found a way to salvage some learning from a tough weekend.

For Verstappen, though, it was all about the big picture. His fourth championship solidifies his place as one of Formula 1’s greats, and the respect from his fellow drivers says it all. “He’s driven better than everyone this year,” said Norris. “It’s that simple.” As fireworks lit up the Vegas sky, Verstappen added another chapter to his already incredible career.

The Las Vegas Grand Prix had a little bit of everything—dominant performances, tough lessons, and a new milestone for Verstappen. For Mercedes, it was a weekend to celebrate their pace and strategy. For McLaren, it was a chance to learn and grow. And for Verstappen, it was another reminder of why he’s the best driver on the grid right now.