MOTORSPORT: Verstappen outlasts Las Vegas

A penalty and crash damage couldn’t deny world champion Max Verstappen his 18th victory in 2023, as Formula 1 took over Las Vegas for the first time since 1982 with a spectacular display.

In an action-packed race, the minor placings went down to the final lap, with Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) getting the better of Sergio Perez, ensuring a Red Bull Racing one-two in the driver’s standings – a first in the team’s 18-year history.

The much-hyped debut event on the Las Vegas Strip suffered an inauspicious start when both the Alpine of Esteban Ocon and the Ferrari of Carlos Sainz struck a dislodged metal cover on the circuit within the first 10 minutes of opening practice.

Both drivers required a replacement chassis, with Sainz controversially taking on board a 10-grid spot penalty for utilising a string of replacement parts.

In further controversy, the remainder of opening practice was cancelled, with an extended 90-minute second practice starting at 2:30am local time, some 30 minutes after the trackside spectators were escorted from the venue.

Race day was similarly drama-charged.

Verstappen jumped into the lead from the race start past polesitter Leclerc, although the move came under review when both cars ran off the circuit.

Behind the leaders, the slick, cold track caught out multiple drivers, with Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) spinning, who was collected by Valtteri Bottas (Alfa Romeo), with Sergio Perez (Red Bull) pushing the Finnish driver into the mess.

Down the order, Sainz also spun.

Under the virtual safety car, both Perez and Alonso pitted for new front wings.

Racing barely resumed on lap three of 50 when Lando Norris (McLaren) ended his miserable weekend in a hefty shunt that nearly took out his teammate Oscar Piastri.

Norris walked away from the wreck but was later transported to hospital for observations, as a full safety car was called.

On lap eight, the stewards awarded Verstappen a 5sec penalty for his first-corner move, although with fading tyre performance he gave way to Leclerc on lap 16 prior to pitting for the first time.

On lap 17, Piastri and Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) came to blows, with the duo subsequently slowed by punctures, while Leclerc stopped from the lead on lap 23.

Three circuits later, Verstappen and George Russell (Mercedes) also came into contact, with the Brit earning a 5sec penalty for his part in the incident and the subsequent debris field necessitating a full safety car.

From the restart, Piastri dived past Pierre Gasly (Alpine) into third position, while Leclerc defended from Perez in the lead, before the Mexican claimed the top spot on lap 32.

Three laps later, Leclerc regained the advantage, however, the dualling pair were soon overhauled by Verstappen, who swept into the lead on lap 37.

Seven laps from home, Leclerc ran wide and ceded second position to Perez, as Piastri pitted from fourth place to switch to the medium compound tyre.

At the chequered flag, Verstappen claimed a slender victory from Leclerc, who dived past Perez at the end of The Strip on the final circuit.

Fourth place went to Ocon, from Lance Stroll (Aston Martin), Sainz, Hamilton, Russell, Alonso and Piastri, who registered the fastest lap of the race, as Daniel Ricciardo (AlphaTauri) claimed 14th.

The Formula 1 season concludes next weekend with the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

2023 Las Vegas Grand Prix results:

2023 Formula 1 championship standings:

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