The Gamble of a Championship: 5 things to know before the Las Vegas Grand Prix
1)Championship Winner
The Las Vegas Grand Prix could decide the 2024 Drivers’ Champion in the 74th Formula One season. A total of 86 points remain available over the final three weekends: Las Vegas, Qatar (which includes a sprint race), and the finale in Abu Dhabi. Max Verstappen leads the standings with 393 points—a significant difference from last year when he won the street circuit with 549 points. His closest challenger, Lando Norris, is 62 points behind who was unable to finish the race last year after a crash in lap three.
So, how can Lando Norris keep fighting for his first championship?
To remain in contention, Lando Norris needs to win this weekend’s race or finish ahead of Max Verstappen without the Red Bull driver securing the fastest lap.
Max Verstapan, three-time world champion, will clinch the 2024 drivers’ title if he wins the Grand Prix, finishes ahead of Norris, or finishes behind Norris with both drivers scoring points.
McLaren continues to lead the Constructors’ Championship with 593 points. Last year, Oscar Piastri set the fastest lap of the Grand Prix—will we see another standout performance from the young Australian this weekend?
Ferrari sits in second place, 36 points behind McLaren. Charles Leclerc secured pole position during last year’s qualifying on the Strip and finished the race on the podium in second place.
Consecutive Two-time constructors’ champions Red Bull find themselves in third with 544 points. Following Max Verstappen’s victory in Las Vegas last year, Sergio Pérez also claimed a podium spot, finishing third.
The stakes are undoubtedly high for both teams; every point counts with the constructor’s and driver’s titles in serious contention this weekend in Vegas
2) Las Vegas Lawsuits
Last year’s inaugural Las Vegas Grand Prix wasn’t all glitz and glamor. Within the first eight minutes of Free Practice One, Carlos Sainz’s Ferrari sustained severe damage from a loose drain cover on the track. Repairs were required for the fault, and the session was postponed, with fans asked to leave the stands. A total of 35,000 attendees joined a class action lawsuit against Formula 1 over their alleged treatment.
Several businesses, including the Ellis Island Hotel and the restaurants Battista’s Hole in the Wall and Stage Door, have filed lawsuits claiming the track interferes with their operations.
Greg Maffei, the outgoing chief executive of Formula One owner Liberty Media, has apologized for the disruption to businesses and improvements made since last year’s race.
3) Sportsmanship not Showmanship
To mark the maiden Las Vegas Strip Grand Prix, an opening ceremony was held. Reflecting the city’s status as the entertainment capital, it featured performances by John Legend and Kylie Minogue, along with appearances from the Blue Man Group and Cirque du Soleil. The drivers were then elevated in front of the crowd.
“It’s not about the singer; it’s just standing up there, you look like a clown,” Max Verstappen told Sky Sports last year, criticizing the ceremony. However, Fernando Alonso and Charles Leclerc showed more enthusiasm for the opening act.
Will there be another Las Vegas show this year, or will the Grand Prix be scaled back?
4)The Track
One of the quickest tracks on the calendar, the 1.92-kilometer straight street circuit on the well-known Las Vegas Strip features 17 corners.
Last year teams used a two pit stop strategy, starting on medium tyres and switching to hard later in the race. Although temperatures are expected to hover around 9°C this weekend, they may rise to 11°C due to increased cloud cover during the day.
With no rain in the forecast, teams are unlikely to use wet tyres. In these less-than-ideal conditions, drivers will need to work harder to bring their tyres up to optimal performance temperatures.
5) Not Your Typical Race Weekend
Due to the American night race, the schedule has been adjusted to accommodate the larger European fan base.
Free Practices One and Two will take place on Thursday night in the United States, with free Practice Three and qualifying on Friday. In the UK, Qualifying will be broadcast at 5:55am on Saturday. The Grand Prix will start at 10pm local time on Saturday in the US, but UK fans can watch it on Sunday morning at 5:55am.
