Max Verstappen secured his 18th win of the season in the dramatic Las Vegas Grand Prix, a race staged on the neon drenched Strip that delivered more drama than many expected. The Dutch driver battled hard to cross the line ahead of Charles Leclerc and Sergio Pérez, who finished second and third. The margin between them remained tight throughout a race that kept fans on the edge of their seats as overtakes and tactical moves shaped the podium outcome.
Verstappen also faced a late penalty decision tied to an exit maneuver with Leclerc, a call that added pressure as the safety car was deployed mid race. The Red Bull driver used the restart to create an advantage, exploiting the restarts to pull clear and edge out Leclerc, who had to endure pressure from Pérez in the final laps. The battle for position intensified as drivers jostled for clean air and track position on a circuit designed to test overtaking realism and strategic choices.
Fernando Alonso encountered a setback at the start when his car spun, dropping him toward the back of the field. He managed a steady recovery and climbed back through the order to finish in ninth, showing his characteristic resilience. Carlos Sainz also faced a challenging start but ultimately finished sixth, turning around initial struggles into a solid result as the race wore on.
Las Vegas GP. Race (50 laps)
1. Max Verstappen (Red Bull) 1:29:08.289 — Dominated the field with clean execution and strategic timing that leveraged the safety car period to maintain momentum and secure the victory.
2. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) 2.070 seconds behind — A fierce contest for the podium, with Leclerc staying in touch through key corners and defending against late pressure from Pérez.
3. Sergio Pérez (Red Bull) 2:241 — A strong performance that kept him in the fight until the final laps, trading blows with Leclerc for a shot at second.
4. Esteban Ocon (Alpine) at 8:665 — Consistent pace from the Alpine driver, contributing to a competitive top tier finish.
5. Lance Stroll (Aston Martin) at 20:067 — A solid outing that showcased Stroll’s ability to convert steady pace into a prominent result.
6. Carlos Sainz (Ferrari) 20:834 — A difficult start but a determined climb through the field highlighted Sainz’s race craft.
7. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) at 21:755 — A strong run that kept Mercedes in the mix and demonstrated strategic angle and tire management.
8. George Russell (Mercedes) 23:091 — A competitive performance that helped Mercedes stay in the hunt for poles and podiums in a tight season.
9. Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) 25:964 — A comeback drive that underscored Alonso’s experience and racecraft after an early setback.
10. Oscar Piastri (McLaren) 29:496 — A robust showing from the rookie, navigating the pack with poise and securing a notable finish.
11. Pierre Gasly (Alpine) 34:270 — A steady pace that placed Gasly well within scoring range and highlighted Alpine’s strategic execution.
12. Alexander Albon (Williams) 43:398 — A decent result that reflected Williams’ improvement and Albon’s consistent pace.
13. Kevin Magnussen (Haas) 44:825 — A competitive outing that added to Haas’ developing form during the weekend.
14. Daniel Ricciardo (AlphaTauri) 48:525 — A solid effort as Ricciardo pushed hard to climb through the order.
15. Guanyu Zhou (Alfa Romeo) 50:162 — A steady performance that kept Alfa Romeo in the points chase.
16. Logan Sargeant (Williams) 50:882 — A respectable result that reflected ongoing progress for Williams.
17. Valtteri Bottas (Alfa Romeo) 85:350 — A competitive showing that demonstrated Bottas’s pace in the midfield.
RETIRED
18. Yuki Tsunoda (AlphaTauri) — A race cut short for Tsunoda before reaching the final stages, with the team regrouping for the next event.
Nico Hülkenberg (Haas) and Lando Norris (McLaren) also did not finish, adding to the race’s high attrition rate and the unpredictable nature of street circuits where every lap counts and drivers push to extract maximum performance from the car and tires.