Track Torque: Verstappen supreme in Las Vegas amid McLaren DQ
Three drivers still have a chance to win the championship.
Max Verstappen (Red Bull) was in a class of his own in winning the controversial Las Vegas Grand Prix last Sunday.
He got to celebrate in style, but championship leaders McLaren had to endure the huge disappointment of both cars being disqualified due to too much wear on the plank under the car.
This basically means running the car lower than the prescribed ground clearance, the same reason Ferrari was disqualified at a race earlier in the year.
This was tough for Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, who would have finished second and fourth respectively.
It’s unfortunate, but it does now create an even more exciting situation for the last two races of the year.
Norris is still in a favourable position to win the championship, with Verstappen and Piastri in joint second position not far behind.
In Vegas, George Russell was the first Mercedes home in second position, with teammate Kimi Antonelli taking third after the disqualifications.
While Russell had a few challenges to sort out on his car, Antonelli drove a tremendous race, all the way from 17th on the grid, showing impressive maturity.
Antonelli and Isack Hadjar are both under 21 and look likely to be the stars of the not too distant future.
Meanwhile, Ferrari had a difficult and luckless weekend, but the two disqualifications ahead of them helped Charles Leclerc finish fourth and Lewis Hamilton eighth.
Both drivers were disappointed with their results as they could have done a lot better.
In fifth position was Carlos Sainz in his Williams after displaying good form over the whole weekend.
Behind him in sixth place was Isack Hadjar in his Racing Bull Honda.
In seventh place was Nico Hulkenberg, who yet again displayed his prowess in the conservative Sauber Ferrari.
It augurs well for Audi next year provided that the engine is developed quickly enough to be fully competitive, which is asking a lot in their debut year.
Esteban Ocon and teammate Oliver Bearman, both Ferrari powered, did well to bring their cars both home in the points. Remember that after 10th position there are still another 10 cars competing.
The next two races, in Qatar and Abu Dhabi, are a week away and a week apart so it’s a finish to the season that promises major excitement.
The most Verstappen or Piastri can get to is 416 points and they would have to win both races to do so.
Thus, Norris needs to get to 417 points to secure the title, so a third and fourth place finish is the worst he can do assuming Verstappen or Piastri win the two remaining races.
Who backs who in the racing zoo? The odds are on Norris but who knows in the wonderful world of Formula One?
DRIVERS
1 Lando Norris 390
2 Oscar Piastri 366
3 Max Verstappen 366
4 George Russell 294
5 Charles Leclerc 226
6 Lewis Hamilton
7 Kimi Antonelli 137
8 Alexander Albon 73
9 Isack Hadjar 51
10 Nico Hulkenberg 49
CONSTRUCTORS
1 McLaren 756
2 Mercedes 431
3 Red Bull 391
4 Ferrari 378
5 Williams 121
HAVE YOUR SAY
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