Verstappen wins as F1 delivers a landmark global spectacle

Verstappen wins as F1 delivers a landmark global spectacle: Analysis of The Las Vegas Grand Prix, brought to you by Bahrain International Circuit

Following months of anticipation, more hype than most fans will have ever seen for a race, rafts of celebrities, Elvis costumes, fireworks and fanfare, F1 did its talking on the track. Some were worried that because of all the buildup, it would be difficult for the race to match up to expectation. The barrier was spectacularly high, but the action that unfolded, late at night in the Nevada desert, delivered a race that will live long into the memory. It showcased a street circuit with unique qualities that allowed the race spectacle to shine so brightly, it made the multi-million-dollar Sphere (the world’s largest LED display next to the track) look like a minor side show.

It would be fair to say that the race weekend did not start as planned. Carlos Sainz drove over a manhole cover, which came loose and caused extensive damage to his car after just eight minutes of first practice. The session was terminated, and second practice would take place five hours later to allow for the FIA to check 300 other covers to ensure a repeat would not happen. This is not a first in F1, as there have been similar incidents in Baku and Monaco. It also does not need to be reminded that safety – as in all motorsport – has to be the first priority. Whilst it was a frustrating start, one suspects that the events of the rest of the weekend will swiftly put such difficulties far into ancient history.

Qualifying was the first real chance to get a feel for the characteristics of the track. It’s one of the longest on the calendar at 3.8 miles and has 17 corners. It’s a combination of long straights and slow corners. The track surface was also a little different, with relatively low abrasion, certainly compared to what we have at BIC. This would mean getting tyres up to temperature is difficult, not least when air temperatures are cold by F1 standards at around 15 degrees.

McLaren struggled throughout qualifying, as they couldn’t get their tyres up to temperature in a car that is not well-suited to slow corners. Both cars failed to get into the final round of qualifying. Ferrari on the other hand, was reveling in the cold making use of its strong straight-line speed and it came as little surprise to see both cars taking the front row. Unfortunately for Sainz, his incident with the manhole cover meant he had to replace parts earlier in the weekend and take grid penalties. That put Verstappen alongside Leclerc on the front row, with Russell and Gasly behind, followed by the two Williams cars, which also seemed to enjoy the long straights. There was hope for those further back in the field however, including Perez who could only qualify 12, as the race format would allow more time for drivers and cars to get used to this unique track setup.

The race got off to a dramatic start, as Verstappen and Leclerc were alongside each other into turn one. They both ran wide and Verstappen took the lead. After careful review the stewards felt that Verstappen had gained an unfair advantage and awarded him a five second penalty. There was even more chaos further back, as Alonso took a spin, which led to Bottas and Perez taking some damage, whilst Sainz also spun towards the back.

On lap three, Lando Norris reminded everyone of how treacherous a relatively low grip street circuit can be. Having started promisingly he lost his back end and took a hefty hit into the barriers. Fortunately, he was not badly injured and was back in the paddock after a brief hospital checkup.