After every Grand Prix, we present the RaceReport, a playful and exclusive digital recap of the race weekend. Reporter Gerard Bos brings you the latest from Las Vegas!
NEVER A DULL MOMENT IN VEGAS
The Las Vegas Grand Prix has been met with some skepticism since its inception in 2023. It’s often dismissed as more spectacle than sport, a sentiment even echoed by Max Verstappen. While I often agree with him, this is one instance where I beg to differ. The third edition of the race in ‘Sin City’ has once again proven to be a thrilling event. The embarrassing manhole cover incident in 2023 was a black mark for Vegas and F1, but the race itself was exciting. In 2024, it was particularly memorable as Verstappen gloriously clinched the championship here. And in 2025, we experienced wet conditions for the first time. As they say in the United States, it’s never a dull moment.
This year has been equally entertaining, hasn’t it? A fantastic qualifying round, a spectacular race. All set against the ever-insane backdrop of neon lights, entertainment, and casino madness. But the sport is also incredibly popular here, as evidenced by the numerous fans in F1 gear seen around the city. Las Vegas and F1 are becoming an increasingly fitting pair, and the 2025 edition only further proves this point.
Highlights in Nevada
Max’s Quote
“Just because we’ve faced some challenges this season doesn’t mean it has changed me. You just have to deal with it. And then you try to do better next time as a team. I think we’ve shown that often this season, we haven’t let each other down. The car has become faster and we’ve learned from the mistakes we made on some weekends.”
Top Performers and Underperformers
Who excelled and who fell short during the race weekend in Las Vegas? Here are our top performers and underperformers!
Highlight: Max Verstappen
Yes, he is once again the star of the weekend. But credit where credit is due, right? And that is certainly the case for Max Verstappen. He narrowly missed pole position, his qualification was already impressive. But what Verstappen subsequently showed in the race in Las Vegas was truly remarkable. Flawless from start to finish, keeping the fast McLaren of Lando Norris behind him; this means that the Dutchman has delivered a top performance. Anyone who also sees Verstappen’s lap times – as flat as a billiard table – can’t help but take a deep bow for him. The fact that he could theoretically still become world champion is a bonus. Although still not realistic, you would agree. But a glorious winner and therefore top: yes, he certainly was in Las Vegas.
Flop: Gabriel Bortoleto
Is the Formula 1 season perhaps just a bit too long for Gabriel Bortoleto? It could very well be. The Brazilian is of course a rookie and is therefore not used to a season with 24 Grand Prix weekends. Particularly in the last weekends, things are not going smoothly, the race in Las Vegas proves that once again. The Sauber driver makes an unprecedented mistake at the start, he overshoots and hits several others like a kamikaze pilot. The biggest victim of Bortoleto’s reckless action is Lance Stroll. Earlier, things also did not go well for Bortoleto in his home country Brazil. Two more weekends to go, then it’s time for a well-deserved vacation. The youngster could certainly use it, as it turns out. The good news: there’s nothing wrong with his talent, so here’s to looking forward to next year.
Behind the Scenes
A look behind the scenes at the Grand Prix of Las Vegas!
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GP Las Vegas: Stellar Performance by Max Verstappen, Norris Minimizes Damage
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THREE QUESTIONS FOR… PAUL MONAGHAN
Chief Engineer at Red Bull
The 2026 season may seem far off, but the first test days are just ten weeks away. What are the biggest challenges for a team regarding the upcoming season?
“Well, ten weeks… it’s approaching quickly. And there isn’t just one specific challenge, everything is a challenge. So much is changing in terms of engines, and much more. The only thing that seems to remain from the current generation of cars is the steering wheel that you can click out. So new cars, new rules, new road behavior, and many uncertainties: there’s no shortage of challenges heading into 2026. But bring it on.”
Do you think the way of racing will change significantly?
“Not if you’re leading. As a team or driver, you won’t notice much difference. But in general, it’s hard to predict. Some teams and drivers will immediately get the hang of it, others will struggle with the car and thus need time. This will lead to larger differences between the cars, which will also affect the way of racing. You may need to use your energy differently in the car, there’s a lot of uncertainty about how the cars will behave in races.”
And do you think the lap times will be very different?
“That depends on the circuit. There are tracks where you use less energy than others. In those cases, it becomes easier to conserve energy in the car, but as a result, you’ll drive a bit slower. It’s also a question of how much grip there will be with the new cars. Based on simulations, you might think it’s a certain amount, but whether that’s reality remains to be seen. Ultimately, the lap times will probably be a bit slower here and there. But they won’t be Formula 2 times. At least, I hope not.”
NEXT GRAND PRIX: QATAR
Losail International Circuit
In early November, Formula 1 heads to the Middle East for the Qatar Grand Prix, where the sprint format will be used once again. A compact weekend program awaits at the Losail International Circuit, with track action on all days. It is the penultimate race of this Formula 1 season. Here is the full schedule for the 2025 Qatar GP, including Dutch times.
Schedule for the 2025 Qatar GP
Friday, November 28
- First free practice: 12:30 – 13:30 UTC
- Sprint qualification: 16:30 – 17:15 UTC
Saturday, November 29
- Sprint race: 13:00 – 14:00 UTC
- Qualification: 17:00 – 18:00 UTC
Sunday, November 30
- Race: 15:00 UTC
