'Max Verstappen mentally won the F1 title after the Brazilian Grand Prix'
- Estéban den Toom
Max Verstappen could become Formula 1 world champion for the fourth time in a row in Las Vegas. There are several ways the Dutchman could win the championship in Sin City. In this article, the editors of GPblog provide their predictions for the second running of the Las Vegas Grand Prix.
Will Max Verstappen secure his fourth Formula 1 world championship in Las Vegas?
Corwin Kunst: "I expect Red Bull can indeed start taking the championship jerseys out of the pack, albeit it is going to be exciting. I expect Verstappen to finish just one or two spots ahead of Lando Norris."
Jeroen Immink: "Yes, Max Verstappen is going to be world champion for the fourth time. Lando Norris is definitely in the pit, is going to make mistakes and because McLaren is only concerned with the constructors' title, I wouldn't be surprised if even Oscar Piastri finishes ahead of the Briton."
Kada Sárközi: "I think Verstappen has already won the title with his stunning performance in Sao Paulo, Norris can now only win the title mathematically. If Verstappen can avoid a DNF, he has a good shot at earning his fourth title. Given recent results, McLaren seems to still be a step ahead of Red Bull, but even if that only happens in Qatar, it would be only disappointing for the organisers who would like to have that part of their show."
Who will take pole position for Sunday's race in Nevada?
Corwin Kunst: "In terms of pure speed, there are not many drivers faster than Charles Leclerc and I think the Ferrari driver will be fastest in qualifying like last year. Max Verstappen I expect only on the second row of the grid."
Jeroen Immink: "Charles Leclerc. My reasoning in this one is pretty simple: I think the Ferrari will go fastest in Vegas and Leclerc is one of the best qualifiers. That's why I say Leclerc P1, Verstappen P2 and Sainz P3."
Kada Sárközi: "I think Charles Leclerc can once again take pole position in Vegas. Last year, Ferrari could have a one-two finish, but of course, Sainz had a ten-place grid penalty after the loose cover incident. The Brazil GP was not an easy one for Leclerc, but they will be in good shape this time."
McLaren or Ferrari? Which team will score the most points in Las Vegas?
Corwin Kunst: "Ferrari is going to make it a bit more exciting in the constructors' championship than it already is. The Maranello-based stable was rock solid last year and they have high hopes of a good result themselves. I expect a double points finish for Ferrari."
Jeroen Immink: "Ferrari. At this stage of the season, it's better to chase than be chased. Especially when you are as changeable as McLaren. I think we are going to see two Ferraris plus Max on the podium in Las Vegas and the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix will be a spectacle in terms of the constructors' championship."
Kada Sárközi: "It's not easy to decide on that, but one thing that's sure is that Ferrari is eager to outperform McLaren. Both Fred Vasseur and Leclerc were optimistic about their chances in the US, and even as things didn't go their way in Brazil, they are having great results. Moreover, for McLaren, entering Qualifying and the GP, the added pressure with the WDC battle still might be there on some level. Ferrari has a clear goal and a car to achieve that. It is a good test for Vasseur's team."
Who will win the Las Vegas Grand Prix on the strip?
Corwin Kunst: "I think it will be Carlos Sainz who crosses the finish line first when it is early Sunday morning here. The Spaniard is in a nice flow and has proved that he is not much below Charles Leclerc, especially in the race."
Jeroen Immink: "Then I say again Leclerc. Verstappen knows that second place is enough for him and I think Sainz is also happy with a third place. So I expect the top three in qualifying to cash in on those places in the race. I don't expect it to be the most spectacular race of the year, but I do think after Sunday the Netherlands can say they have a four-time Formula One world champion."
Kada Sárközi: "Leclerc showed great pace last year, and I think he will be able to convert his pole position into a victory come Sunday. Also, Verstappen and Norris could be involved in more action in terms of the drivers' standings, as Verstappen wants to get that done as soon as possible, while Norris is on the edge of missing out. Therefore, Leclerc can take advantage of that as he did at COTA."
This article was written in collaboration with Toby Nixon
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