- Max Verstappen’s São Paulo win extended his Championship lead to 62 points.
- A Max Verstappen win guarantees the title, regardless of where Lando Norris finishes.
- Last year’s Las Vegas Grand Prix produced 82 overtakes – anything can happen.
The stage is set for another blockbuster showdown as all the teams across the Formula 1 grid descend on the blinding neon lights of the Las Vegas Grand Prix. This time, three-time world champion Max Verstappen will arrive buoyed by a sensational drive in São Paulo, Brazil where he flew past his WDC rivals to extend his precious lead at the top of the ladder.
Another repeat performance like that will be enough for Max Verstappen to clinch his fourth consecutive championship in Formula 1. The Dutchman, as ever, remains cool in the face of unwavering pressure; he’ll face the latest in a line of rivals attempting to challenge his dominance – his off-track friend, McLaren’s Lando Norris when the cars line up on Sunday.
What Verstappen Needs to Win the Title
Verstappen’s relentless march toward the 2024 Drivers’ Championship hasn’t been as straightforward as previous years. With the resurgence of McLaren, a team challenging for both the Constructors’ and Drivers’ Championship this year, Verstappen has been forced to defend Red Bull’s position on his own at times, fending off the pursuing pack with a tenacity and guile that we previously hadn’t seen in the past.
Victory, No Questions Asked
In Las Vegas, the permutations are straightforward: a victory guarantees him the title, irrespective of where Lando Norris finishes. It feels like too much of a simple solution in a season that has seen the most individual race winners for years, with Mercedes’ drivers George Russell and Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz and McLaren’s Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri all claiming victories in 2024.
If Verstappen can replicate last year’s performance at the inaugural Las Vegas Grand Prix, his fourth WDC title will be secured, adding another unforgettable chapter to a career brimming with remarkable moments.
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Norris Misses the Podium
Now, anything can happen in Las Vegas – a city synonymous with unpredictability, high stakes, and dramatic twists. As promised, last year’s Grand Prix delivered on all fronts, featuring 82 overtakes, the second-highest total of the entire Formula 1 calendar.
The tight, unforgiving street circuit combined with its high-speed straights created the perfect recipe for chaos amongst the pack, ensuring that every driver, no matter their grid position, had opportunities to battle their way forward. This year’s edition is primed to deliver another thriller.
With Red Bull’s form showing uncharacteristic cracks in the latter stages of the season – Brazil notwithstanding – Norris knows he has a fighting chance of taking more points of his Dutch rival under the Vegas lights. He simply needs to find his composure and capitalise on any RB misstep.
Even if the Dutchman falls short of the top step of the podium, Norris must outscore him by three points to keep the title fight alive. Given Verstappen’s relentless pace and knack for rising to the occasion, that’s a tall order for the young English driver in the pursuit of his first WDC.
A Strong Finish, Even Without a Win
Max Verstappen’s scintillating São Paulo drive came the just the right time in this turbulent F1 season, proving once again why the Dutch sensation has dominated this sport for the better part of three years – as if we needed reminding. Coupled with the fact that Lando Norris fell down to P6 as the chequered flag fell, Verstappen was able to extend his lead at the top of the Championship to 62 points heading into the Nevada showdown.
There are 60 points left on the table after Las Vegas; Norris’ only hope of keeping his championship dream alive is to deliver a near-perfect performance while Verstappen falters, not only this weekend but in the remaining two races of the season in Qatar and Abu Dhabi.
For the Drive to Survive scriptwriters, the possibility of another dramatic title decider in Abu Dhabi seems almost too good to be true. The final race in the UAE has already witnessed one of the most jaw-dropping title battles in recent memory – the 2021 season’s incredible showdown between Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton – and the thought of Max Verstappen fending off another rival in what has been one of the most exciting seasons in recent memory would make this one for the history books.
Whatever happens, the F1 world will be watching intently, as the sport’s greatest championship storylines continue to unfold.
