Race Notes - Verstappen wins Las Vegas GP

By Mark Karp

Max Verstappen won the Las Vegas GP in his Red Bull-Honda, taking the lead into turn 1, as Norris overcooked the first turn and went wide.

Lando Norris came back and was able to finish second in his McLaren-Mercedes, 20.741s behind the winner.

George Russell, limping home at the end, finished third in his Mercedes GP, 23.546s behind the winner.

It is Verstappen’s sixth win of the season, and Verstappen 69th career victory.

Norris still leads the Drivers Championship by 30 points ahead of his team mate Piastri, and 42 points over Verstappen.

Oscar Piastri (27.650d) in the second McLaren finished fourth, followed by Kimi Antonelli (30.488s) in the second Mercedes GP was fifth, Charles Leclerc (30.678s) in the Ferrari was sixth, Carlos Sainz (34.924s) in the Williams-Mercedes was seventh, Isack Hadjar (45.257s) in the RB-Honda was eighth, Nico Hulkenberg (51.134s) in the Sauber-Ferrari was ninth, and Lewis Hamilton (59.369s) in th second Ferrari took the final point in tenth.

The nighttime fell in the Nevada desert, and the lights came on around the city of Las Vegas.

None of the teams have any idea of how the hard tyres will perform or will last. Most drivers will start on medium tyres, Hulkenberg in 11th starting on hard, Antonelli starting on softs, and a few others towards the back on hard tyres.

Norris sits on pole with Championship contender Verstappen alongside on row 1, Sainz and Russell on row 2, Piastri and Liam Lawson on row 3, Fernando Alonso and Hadjar on row 4, and Leclerc and Pierre Gasly rounding out the top ten.

Antonelli starting 17th, Hamilton starting 19th and Yuki Tsunoda starting 20th, from the pitlane.

At the appointed time, the field took to the circuit and the field came around to the grid, the light went off and the race began with Norris, on the outside into turn 1, goes wide into the first corner, Verstappen in the lead ahead of Russell, Norris, Sainz, Hadjar, Lawson, Piastri, Bearman, Leclerc, and Alonso.

Gabriel Bortoleto and Lance Stroll make contact.

Bortoleto and Stroll are out.

At the end of lap one the yellow flags are out.

On lap 2 Lawson has damage to the front wing. The Virtual Safety car is out.

Verstappen leads Russell, Norris, Sainz, Hadjar, Piastri, Oliver Bearman, Leclerc, Alonso, and Hulkenberg tenth, Hamilton up to 12th.

On lap 4 the Virtual Safety car is done, and the race continues.

On lap 5 Tsunoda sets fast lap.

On lap 6 Russell takes fast lap at 1m36.909s.

Leclerc passes Bearman for seventh.

Antonelli switches from soft to hard tyres.

Verstappen in the lead over Russell by 0.8s, with Norris in third 3.6s further back.

On lap 7 Verstappen sets fast lap at 1m36.383s.

On lap 8 Verstappen breaks the DRS gap over Russell.

On lap 10 Verstappen sets fast lap.

Leclerc is within DRS of Piastri.

On lap Leclerc passes Piastri for sixth.

On lap 13 Verstappen sets fast lap.

On lap 14 Leclerc passes Hadjar for fifth.

Russell radios that he is having steering issues.

Albon and Hamilton make contact but continue.

On lap 16 the virtual safety car is out to recover debris from the circuit.

Antonelli is giving a 5-second penalty for a false start.

On lap 17 the virtual safety car is cleared.

Piastri passes Hadjar for sixth.

On lap 18 Russell pits for hard tyres and rejoins seventh.

Hulkenberg passes Ocon for eighth.

Norris sets fast lap at 1m35.591s.

On lap 18

At lap 20 Verstappen leads Norris by 7.7 seconds, followed by Sainz (14.5s), Leclerc (16.1s), Piastri (18.2s), Hadjar (21.7s), Hulkenberg (26.7s), Hamilton (29.1s) in eighth.

Hadjar pits and rejoins 11th.

Verstappen sets fast lap at 1m35.574s,

On lap 22 Piastri pits for hard tyres and rejoins tenth.

On lap 23 Norris pits for medium tyres and rejoins fourth.

Sainz pits and rejoins tenth.

On lap 23 Piastri passes Sainz for ninth.

Alonso passes Tsunoda for 12th.

McLaren tells Norris they are on plan B.

On lap 25 Leclerc pits for hard tyres and rejoins ninth.

Verstappen pits for hard tyres and rejoins still first.

Verstappen leads Russell, Norris, Hulkenberg, Hamilton, Antonelli, Oconm Piastri, Leclerc and Sainz in tenth.

On lap 27 Piastri sets fast lap.

On lap 28 Verstappen sets fast lap at 1m35.016s.

On lap 30 Hamilton pits for medium tyres and rejoins tenth.

Leclerc sets fas lap at 1m34.947s.

Hulkenberg pits for medium tyres and rejoins ninth.

Piastri sets fast lap at 1m34.895s.

On lap 32 Norris sets fast lap at 1m34.442s, running third closing on Russell.

On lap 34 Norris passes Russell for second place.

On lap 36 Norris sets fast lap at 134.437s - and trails Verstappen by 5.6 seconds.

On lap 37 Verstappen sets fast lap at 1m34.216s.

On lap 38 Verstappen sets fast lap at 1m34.200s.

At lap 40 Verstappen leads Norris by 5.7 seconds followed by Russell (11.9s), Antonelli (22.4s), Piastri (23.3s), Leclerc (24.1s), Sainz (27.5s), Hadjar (36.3s), Hulkenberg (43.2s), and Hamilton (48.5s) in tenth.

Verstappen sets fast lap at 1m34.192s.

On lap 41 Norris sets fast lap at 1m33.965s, and trails Verstappen by 5.6 seconds.

On lap 46 Verstappen leads Norris by 7.0 seconds, with Russell in third, 18.8s behind. Piastri is in fifth, but Antonelli ahead of him has a five-second penalty upcoming.

On lap 48 Verstappen sets fast lap at 1m33.895s.

Reports are coming in that Norris is nursing a problem with his car and has fallen to 16 seconds behind Verstappen.

At the checked flag Verstappen wins over Norris and Russell.

On the final lap Verstappen sets fastest lap at 1m33.365s.