It might solely be the penultimate race of the F1 season, however the Las Vegas Grand Prix may be probably the most anticipated race of the season. The town of Las Vegas is pulling out all of the stops, together with a short lived monitor that may go proper by way of the well-known Las Vegas Strip. Even with the outcomes of the Brazilian Grand Prix contemporary in everybody’s minds, let’s begin looking on the Las Vegas Grand Prix. Listed here are the highest drivers who’re in competition to complete first within the first F1 race held in Las Vegas since 1982.
Max Verstappen
With out query, Verstappen is the clear favorite to win the Las Vegas Grand Prix, in line with the entire main betting websites. The Dutchman has dominated the F1 season in a manner that no different driver has within the historical past of the game. After profitable the Brazil Grand Prix, Verstappen has now gained 17 of the 20 this season. Why wouldn’t he be favoured to win the final two? Clearly, Verstappen is the perfect F1 driver on this planet proper now by an enormous margin. The one caveat is that the Las Vegas Grand Prix is a brand new race with an unfamiliar course, which may degree the taking part in discipline. But when anybody can regulate rapidly to it, Verstappen can.
Sergio Perez
Perez may be the driving force with the perfect likelihood of ending Verstappen’s five-race profitable streak. He’s at the moment second within the F1 standings and has proven previously that he’s able to giving Verstappen a run for his cash. The truth is, two of the three races this season that Verstappen didn’t win have been gained by Perez. Then again, Perez has completed outdoors of the highest three drivers in six straight races, so he’s not within the type he was in early within the season when he gained his two races.
Lewis Hamilton
At the moment third within the F1 standings, Hamilton is one other driver who may pull off a shock on the Las Vegas Grand Prix and stop Verstappen from profitable. Hamilton is a seven-time F1 champion, profitable the title in 2020 earlier than Verstappen’s reign started. Throughout the present season, Hamilton has completed within the high three in six races, together with a second-place end on the Mexico Metropolis Grand Prix final month. In different phrases, he’s one of many few drivers with the abilities and monitor document to steal the highlight away from Verstappen in Las Vegas.
Fernando Alonso
Following back-to-back races through which he was compelled to retire, Alonso completed third on the Brazil Grand Prix. Whereas he’s but to win a race this season, he’s been ok to be fourth within the F1 standings. With out query, his greatest days are behind him, as Alonso hasn’t gained an F1 race in over a decade. Nonetheless, his expertise degree may show helpful on the unfamiliar monitor in Las Vegas.
George Russell
Outdoors of some races when he’s been compelled to retire, Russell hasn’t completed worse than eighth place in a race all season. The younger Brit has introduced a stunning degree of consistency to the circuit in 2023. Russell will undoubtedly be dissatisfied after being compelled to retire final weekend throughout the Brazil Grand Prix, a race that he gained final season. That ought to encourage him to be at his greatest when he goes to Las Vegas.
Charles Leclerc
Considerably quietly, Leclerc has had a powerful run throughout the second half of the F1 season. Of the final six races that he’s been capable of end, Leclerc has completed within the high 5 in all of them. That features a third-place end on the Mexico Metropolis Grand Prix final month. Leclerc is without doubt one of the few drivers that’s been constantly nipping at Verstappen’s heels. That makes him a darkish horse candidate to steal the Las Vegas Grand Prix away from Verstappen.
Carlos Sainz Jr.
There are solely three F1 drivers who can declare to have gained a race in 2023, and Sainz is one in every of them. He took first place on the Singapore Grand Prix earlier than Verstappen rattled off 5 victories in a row. Together with that win in Singapore, Sainz has completed third or higher in three of his final six races. Regardless of solely being ranked sixth within the F1 standings proper now, Sainz ought to nonetheless be thought of a risk in Las Vegas to beat Verstappen and the remainder of the sphere for the second time this 12 months.
