24/11/2024
NEWS STORY
Nah. We remain unconvinced.
OK, last year's race - contrary to expectations - was entertaining, but we remain totally unconvinced by Las Vegas, feeling that it is indicative of the way the sport has gone under Liberty Media... style over substance.
Ignoring the endless hype, the fact that almost every single picture looks the same - what is it with that bloody Sphere - we still feel that Las Vegas is all about the look.
After all, what better example than Stake. After 21 races and 5 Sprints the soon-to-be Audi hasn't scored a single point, yet before issuing the usual anodyne preview of the race was releasing details of its exciting new flame livery.
Like we said, style over substance.
The good news is that Franco Colapinto has been cleared to race, though in rebuilding his car the team made set-up changes which means that the youngster will start from the pitlane.
Of course, Max can wrap up his fourth successive title today, though we have a strong feeling that this isn't in the Liberty script, and scripts have always been a big thing in Vegas, backdrop to many a classic movie.
That aside, if he hopes to keep his title hopes alive until next week in Qatar, Lando must outscore his rival by 3 points.
Other than the lack of grip the drivers have suffered all weekend, it is quite windy tonight which should add to the fun and games.
As a race it's hard to call. Mercedes was looking set to dominate until Lewis had a nightmare qualifying, the Briton having looked exceedingly strong in all the previous sessions. Consequently, while his teammate starts from pole, in the early stages the seven-time world champion will have to deal with the likes of Nico, Esteban, Kevin and Zhou.
While the title is the focus, taking this race as a stand-alone - Ferrari will want to get one over on McLaren in the battle for the Constructors' Championship, whilst further back Alpine and Haas are closing on an ever floundering Aston Martin.
McLaren has been somewhat anonymous this weekend, and other than the disappointment of Brazil, Lando has to deal with a teammate who is raring to be let of the leash and will not - according to Zak - be subject to team orders.
Once again Carlos gets the better of his teammate while Yuki and Pierre continue to impress.
On paper a one-stop is clearly the quickest, with the medium and hard the obvious choices. While no one has really used the hard so far this weekend, this compound is absolutely the one the teams know best and it was also extensively tried here last year.
It is therefore no coincidence that all the drivers have kept two sets and they will definitely use one, while the other can be regarded as a back-up in case the race is neutralised, which is always possible on a street circuit.
As was the case last year, the majority of drivers will start on the medium before switching to the hard from around Lap 14.
Those going for a more cautious approach, especially if they have been relegated to the back end of the grid, could opt to start with the hard, going past the halfway point before pitting for mediums.
It's difficult to imagine the soft coming into play, apart from anyone planning right from the start to go for a two-stop, to make the most of the hard with a clear track ahead.
Of course, these strategies assume drivers actually make it through the opening phase, and the fact is that the lack of grip - not to mention the usual visor down madness - is likely to lead to some mayhem at the start and over the course of the next lap or two.
It would be easy to say that we are open to being convinced by Vegas but the fact is that the force-feeding of the event doesn't help and even were it to produce an absolute classic we are unlikely to warm to it.
That said, the guys are free to try.
Ahead of the pitlane opening, Max is already raring to go, as he heads out he is followed by Gasly, Tsunoda, Perez, Hamilton and Stroll.
Last to take their place on the grid is Magnussen, who starts from twelfth.
Air temperature is 18 degrees C, while the track temperature is 19 degrees.
All are starting on mediums bar Perez, Bottas and Colapinto who are on hards and Alonso who is on softs. Fresh rubber for all bar Zhou and Stroll.
They head off on the formation lap, all getting away.
The grid forms.
They're away! Russell leads into Turn 1, and while Sainz moves over to cover off Gasly, Leclerc gets the jump on his Ferrari teammate nipping through on the inside in the sweeping left-hander.
Norris gets alongside Verstappen but the Briton thinks better of making a rash move, certainly at this stage in the day, while Tsunoda looks to pick up the pieces should they come to grief.
Further back there are plenty of wheel-to-wheel battles not least Magnussen and Lawson.
At the end of Lap 1, it's: Russell, Leclerc, Sainz, Gasly, Verstappen, Norris, Tsunoda, Piastri, Hulkenberg and Hamilton. Magnussen has dropped three places while Alonso is up two having passed Perez at the start.
Zhou and Lawson have both been noted for leaving the track and gaining an advantage.
Leclerc closes on Russell, as Verstappen shadows Gasly.
Hamilton warned to thing about his tyre management in Turn 11.
Verstappen passes Gasly on Lap 4 on the main straight, giving the Dutchman some breathing space in terms of Norris.
On Lap 5 Leclerc turns up the heat and goes head-to-head with Russell. For a couple of corners they are side-by-side, but the Mercedes driver holds his nerve.
Piastri has been noted for a false start, the Australian is currently ninth.
Alonso pits and rejoins in last... causing one to wonder why he opted for softs at the start.
"We are a bit slow on the straight," complains Perez.
Having passed Hulkenberg, Hamilton is passed by Piastri, while Russell appears to have some debris attached to his floor edge.
Leclerc has dropped behind his teammate and falls into the clutches of Verstappen who makes short work of the Monegasque. Did he push his tyres too hard in the opening laps?
Norris passes Gasly for fifth as Tsunoda closes on the Alpine. Hamilton retakes eighth from Piastri.
5.3s down on the leader, Sainz is now under pressure from Verstappen.
Hamilton passes Tsunoda for seventh as Leclerc pits at the end of Lap 9, as do Norris, Albon and Stroll.
Piastri gets a 5s time penalty for a false start.
Verstappen passes Sainz for second as Hamilton passes Gasly. Both the Spaniard and Frenchman subsequently pit, as do Tsunoda and Piastri.
Serving his penalty, Piastri rejoins in 18th.
"Box, box," Verstappen is told. The Dutchman duly obliges and rejoins in 7th, as Ocon, Zhou and Lawson also stop.
Though behind Magnussen and Bottas, Verstappen is ahead of the Ferraris.
Lap 11 sees a new fastest lap from Norris (37.795) who is currently 11th.
Russell pits at the end of Lap 12, handing the lead to his Mrecedes teammate. Russell rejoins in second as Ocon also pits. However, the Alpine driver makes a mistake and stops at the wrong box and has to go out and complete another lap before pitting again.
Hamilton pits and rejoins in ninth, the seven-time champion having a great race. "How many places have I just lost," he demands. Not as many as he no doubt thinks.
"We would have dropped another 5 places if we'd hung it out any longer," Hamilton is assured.
Hulkenberg pits at the end of Lap 14, as Verstappen closes on his Red Bull teammate who is currently second but has yet to stop.
"No power, no power," complains Gasly. "Told there is not an issue, the Frenchman insists: "I have no power!"
Moment later smoke begins to billow from the rear of the Alpine. "Oh, man," he sighs.
Hamilton posts a new fastest lap (37.772) as he passes Norris and sets off after Leclerc.
In quick succession, Perez is passed by Verstappen, Sainz and Leclerc, with Hamilton adding insult to injury for the Mexican who really needs to stop. Indeed he does, as do Magnussen and Bottas.
After 18 laps, with everyone having stopped, it's: Russell, Verstappen, Sainz, Leclerc, Hamilton, Norris, Tsunoda, Piastri, Albon and Alonso.
Hamilton is all over the back of Leclerc, the Briton pushing the Ferrari to the limit.
Hulkenberg passes Alonso for tenth.
"We don't have the pace," admits Zak Brown, "Mercedes are clearly quick out there.
"It's very slippery," he adds, "we need some ice skates on the car. A two-stop is probably likely, based on driver feedback and what we are seeing I can't imagine 30 more laps on these tyres."
"The front right looks like it's about to go any lap," warns Norris.
Hulkenberg passes Albon for ninth, as Hamilton admits: "Man, these guys are fast on the straights".
Perez makes short work of Lawson to claim 13th.
Struggling with overheating, Albon has Zhou in hot pursuit.
Alonso makes his second stop of the day on Lap 24.
"We have to retire the car," Albon is told as Piastri pits.
Lap 26 sees a new fastest lap from Hamilton (37.055) as he continues to harry Leclerc.
"Let's get off these tyres," demands Sainz as Colapinto pits.
The two Ferraris swap positions, with Hamilton and Verstappen subsequently pitting. Sainz was also about to pit but was told to stay out. Having crossed the white line he is sure to be penalised.
Verstappen and Hamilton rejoin in fifth and sixth.
Sainz subsequently pits but the team isn't ready for him. "Wake up, man. Come on,"" he demands. He rejoins in sixth.
Tsunoda pits at the end of Lap 29 as the stewards note an incident involving Lawson and Ocon.
Norris pits at the end of Lap 30, the McLaren driver rejoining in 7th.
Hamilton passes Verstappen for third - posting another fastest lap in the process - as Leclerc pits.
Russell makes his second stop at the end of Lap 32. He rejoins still 12s in the lead. Perez also pits.
Hulkenberg makes his second stop at the end of Lap 33.
Hamilton is on a real charge taking huge chunks out of his teammate's lead.
In ninth, Tsunoda is under pressure from his RB teammate.
Another fastest lap from Hamilton as he closes to within 8.9s of his teammate.
Lap 36 sees a new fastest lap from Leclerc as he closes to within 1.5s of his Ferrari teammate.
Perez makes a great move which sees him pass Magnussen and Lawson in one go to claim 12th.
"You want me to try and keep them behind, or what," asks Verstappen of the Ferraris. "I think you should," he is told.
Lap 40 sees Leclerc post a new fastest lap (35.674).
Sainz passes Verstappen in Turn 14, as Leclerc also look to try a move but thinks better of it.
"You can do it, mate," Alonso is encouraged as he closes on Hulkenberg who is shadowing Tsunoda.
"We've got to get it to the end," Hulkenberg is urged.
As Hamilton closes to within 5s of his teammate, Mercedes confirms that they are free to race.
Hulkenberg passes Tsunoda for 8th.
"George, just keep picking up the pace," Russell is urged.
On Lap 46, Leclerc appears to catch Verstappen by surprise, passing the Red Bull in Turn 14.
"Critical, be careful of the oversteer," Norris is warned.
The Briton subsequently pits in order to take on softs and go for the fastest lap.
Russell takes the flag, with his teammate making it a Mercedes 1-2. Sainz and Leclerc make it a Ferrari 3-4 while Verstappen's fifth is enough to secure the title.
Norris is sixth, with the consolation of fastest lap, ahead of Piastri, Hulkenberg, Tsunoda and Perez.
Alonso is eleventh, ahead of Magnussen, Zhou, Colapinto, Stroll, Lawson, Ocon and Bottas.
Some interesting performances, particularly those of Hamilton, Hulkenberg, Tsunoda and even Perez, while Alonso and Magnussen both deserved more.
A faultless win for Russell, while that comment about the speed of the Ferraris will surely have Hamilton salivating at the thought of next year.
Talking of Ferrari, clearly all is not well for Leclerc issues an expletive-ridden tirade about his teammate.
"It was a bit of a shock," says Sainz, "the mediums lasted eight, nine laps for me and from there it was a damage limitation.
"We just didn't have it today," he adds. "This race has delivered a good show and I'm looking forward to coming back here in the future."
"Firstly I have to say a big congratulations to Max, winning the championship," says Hamilton.
"If I'd done my job yesterday, it would have been a breeze today," he smiles. "But I had fun coming from P10.
"We don't know why the car was so quick but that's the best the car has felt. If the car drives like that in the next couple of races, we'll be able to challenge the guys in front."
I was planning on flying in a couple of hours, but I am definitely not getting on that flight - I'm going to enjoy this with all my team. Vegas is just a crazy, crazy place. To get pole, a dominant weekend, a 1-2 with Lewis as well - I was just waiting for something to happen, the last two I've had on pole have been crazy races with rain, red flags. But I'm so, so happy right now."
"It's been a long season," says the world champion. "We started off cruising, and we have to be proud of everyone. To stand here as a four-time world champion, I never thought it was possible. I'm relieved in a way, and very proud.
"We hit the ground running with the new concept, and to be a four-time champion is just incredible. It was a very challenging season, I had to be calm and in a way I still prefer last season, but this season taught me a lot of lessons and I'm very proud how we handled it as a team.
"All these highs we are achieving right now, it's very special to achieve with all the people here and back at the factory, it's very special.
"Of course, if you look at next year right now, it will be a proper battle between lots of cars. But I need to enjoy this, there are still two races to come and then we have a little break before we go back at it next year."
"It's been a rollercoaster of a year," admits Christian Horner, "but Max has been truly outstanding. He got off to a flying start, we had a difficult summer but he has just been outstanding. I think it's been his best and hardest world championship, he's delivered on days where the car wasn't quite there.
"This one has been hard won. All credit to the men and women in Milton Keynes. The others have pushed us really hard this year. Max joins an elite group of champions now, it puts him in amongst the all-time greats."
Despite the hype leading up to the start it's all a bit flat, even though the title has been won.
Needless to say we remain unconvinced.
That said, a fine win by Russell and a well-deserved championship for Verstappen.
Hopefully, now that the title has been settled, we can have some uncomplicated racing in the remaining two events.