One could take a significant step towards the world title, while the other has little to nothing more to lose: the Las Vegas Grand Prix could thus result in an epic duel. And that too on a circuit that could potentially be wet and where no one knows how the car will behave over a race distance. This and much more, in the preview.
Norris vs Verstappen: A Feast for the Eyes!
Indeed, they will let each other live and compete with respect. However, the fact that Lando Norris, as the World Championship leader, can almost secure the title by winning in Las Vegas, results in a more motivated McLaren leader than ever. The fact that Max Verstappen is almost hopeless in the championship battle (49 points behind Norris) however, results in a pursuer who can go all-in in Las Vegas. And that could just result in a victory for the Dutchman in Sin City. And who knows, perhaps even drama for his English friend and competitor. Will the title fight become exciting after all?
Piastri in Doubt
In recent weeks, when things have not been going well in sports, it has not been easy to be Oscar Piastri. From being the World Championship leader, he has now transformed into a pursuer of teammate Norris, with a gap of 24 points. With 58 points still up for grabs in the upcoming races in Qatar and Abu Dhabi, there is still much to fight for. But Piastri will really have to start catching up and that will be difficult for the Australian, starting in the midfield.
“What do you do if you’re him? After all, you need to overtake people as quickly as possible and try to head towards Alexander Albon. So, you take risks. But the danger is that on the slippery and treacherous street circuit of Las Vegas, you could easily crash your car into a wall, or into the side or back of another car. A retirement is something Piastri can’t afford at all. So, it’s nail-biting time for him and his fans!
Unpredictability of the Track
The weather is unpredictable, as was proven this week: on Wednesday, there was no expectation of rain during the qualification. At least, the chance was only 20 percent. But as you can see, a small chance is also a chance. So, you never know if the predicted dry race will happen today. If the track is wet or drying, the asphalt in Las Vegas is slippery due to the regular street traffic with all the dust and oil that it constantly throws on the road in between sessions: then the road is simply open to the public.
Furthermore, the drivers were hardly able to do a long run during the free practice sessions. Many teams and drivers are therefore entering the race with mainly question marks. How does the car behave over an entire race distance? What do the tires do, in terms of graining? And strategy will also be a gamble. Typical Las Vegas, you might say. Now let’s see who wins the jackpot on the Strip.
And furthermore…
…the circuit is 6201 meters long
…the highest top speed of last year was measured in Vegas (368 km/h, Alex Albon)
…the race counts 50 laps
…there are 17 turns
…the chance of a safety car is 50 percent
…a pit stop lasts an average of 20 seconds, including entering and exiting
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