Max Verstappen Faces Significant Challenges at Las Vegas Grand Prix

Max Verstappen, the reigning Formula 1 world champion, is facing substantial difficulties at the Las Vegas Grand Prix, which could potentially delay his bid to secure a fourth consecutive Drivers’ Championship. Despite holding a 62-point lead over his closest rival, Lando Norris, Verstappen’s Red Bull team has struggled significantly in the practice sessions leading up to the race.

During the Thursday practice sessions, Verstappen could only manage fifth in FP1 and a disappointing 17th in FP2. The main issue for Red Bull appears to be the lack of grip and the incorrect rear wing configuration for the Las Vegas street circuit. Verstappen described the driving experience as “like driving on ice” due to the low grip levels on the dusty and cold track.

Helmut Marko, Red Bull’s senior advisor, has expressed pessimism about Verstappen’s chances of finishing in the top two, stating that with their current performance, they have “no chance at all” of achieving such a result. Marko highlighted that the team’s rear wing is too draggy and that they did not bring the optimal low-downforce rear wing to Las Vegas, resulting in a significant speed deficit on the straights.

Despite these challenges, Verstappen can still clinch the championship if he maintains at least a 60-point advantage over Norris after the Las Vegas Grand Prix. However, the current form suggests that Mercedes, led by Lewis Hamilton, who topped both practice sessions, could pose a significant threat to Verstappen’s title aspirations.

Lando Norris of McLaren, who is Verstappen’s closest competitor in the championship, also faced mixed results in practice but remains hopeful of keeping his title hopes alive. Norris acknowledged the low grip conditions and expressed concerns about his car’s performance with more fuel on board.

The Las Vegas Grand Prix is part of a triple-header that concludes the F1 season, with subsequent races in Qatar and Abu Dhabi. Verstappen has also raised concerns about the scheduling of these races, citing the health impacts of long flights and significant time differences.