Norris closes in on the title
Lando Norris is peaking at precisely the fitting second, and he now appears just like the clear favorite for the title.
Admittedly, his efficiency in Las Vegas wasn’t as spectacular as in Mexico and Brazil, however the Nevada monitor has by no means been considered one of McLaren’s favourites. Nonetheless, the Briton is doing every little thing he must for his title problem.
Though Verstappen received one other race, Lando’s lead has as soon as once more elevated, and now he is 30 factors forward. With simply two rounds remaining, he is firmly answerable for the title race.
– Oleg Karpov
Piastri’s poor run of kind continues
It simply is not taking place for Oscar Piastri, is it? The Australian was determined to begin making inroads into team-mate Norris’ championship lead, however as an alternative he has fallen additional behind and is now going to must hurry as much as maintain off Max Verstappen for second.
Oscar Piastri, McLaren
Photograph by: Glenn Dunbar / LAT Photographs by way of Getty Photographs
Piastri’s most up-to-date performances actually have not been as unhealthy as his Baku, Austin and Mexico weekends, and he was unfortunate to qualify fifth in Las Vegas after catching a yellow flag at a vital time. However he has nonetheless been unable to cease a high-flying Norris, who now appears all however sure to wrap up the title. There’s a whole lot of meals for thought for the 24-year-old, who shall be making an attempt to determine how he can replicate his championship-winning kind from the primary half of 2025 over a whole marketing campaign.
– Filip Cleeren
A Verstappen-Russell F1 title battle is required
When George Russell overtook Lando Norris for second through the opening lap and began making use of strain on Max Verstappen, it seemed as if followers had been in for an attractive victory battle. It didn’t fairly transpire that method, however for the quick time that they had been combating, the place they shortly pulled away from all people else, it confirmed a glimpse of how good a championship battle between these two subsequent yr could be.
That’s as a result of Verstappen and Russell have arguably been ranges above another driver this season, and the Mercedes racer looks like the one one who doesn’t bow all the way down to the strain of combating the four-time F1 world champion.
Max Verstappen, Pink Bull Racing, George Russell, Mercedes
Photograph by: Zak Mauger / LAT Photographs by way of Getty Photographs
It’d be like placing hearth towards hearth, particularly due to the historical past between the pair – as final yr’s Abu Dhabi finale confirmed. There’d actually be extra animosity than there was within the harmonious McLaren battle in 2025, and maybe give F1 its most dramatic season since 2021.
– Ed Hardy
Williams all however secured fifth within the championship
Williams took yet one more step towards securing fifth place within the constructors’ championship in Las Vegas.
Whereas Carlos Sainz couldn’t maintain on to the third place he achieved in Friday qualifying, the Spaniard’s seventh place in tonight’s race meant that Williams outscored its midfield rivals and left the Strip with a 31-point benefit over Racing Bulls, which sits sixth within the championship.
With one of many two remaining grands prix being a dash weekend in Qatar — which means a big variety of factors remains to be on the desk — Racing Bulls would nonetheless want to supply a exceptional feat, like Alpine’s in Brazil final yr, to attempt to reduce the hole to Williams. Whereas that isn’t inconceivable, it actually appears troublesome to realize in Losail or Abu Dhabi.
Carlos Sainz, Williams
Photograph by: Glenn Dunbar / LAT Photographs by way of Getty Photographs
If Williams finally secures fifth within the constructors’, will probably be its greatest ending place because it was additionally fifth in 2017 and can present a strong basis because the Grove-based staff continues its path towards the entrance of the grid.
– Federico Faturos
Litmus check for Hadjar comes subsequent yr
Las Vegas didn’t actually supply something new concerning the battle for the second Pink Bull seat in 2026, because it was extra of the identical. Incumbent Yuki Tsunoda continued his run of not with the ability to catch a break, whereas Racing Bulls rookie Isack Hadjar impressed as soon as extra, and it’s fairly apparent the place that is going.
So apparent that Pink Bull might as properly announce Hadjar as Max Verstappen’s 2026 team-mate on Monday. However nearly as good because the 21-year-old has been this season, one might argue the true litmus check will solely come when he’s a Pink Bull driver and in the identical scenario as Tsunoda is now.
Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls Crew
Photograph by: Sam Bagnall / Sutton Photographs by way of Getty Photographs
That’s as a result of the Japanese driver additionally impressed on the junior squad – granted he didn’t rating a podium, however something can occur in a one-off weekend – so how a lot of a gauge is it actually for a way good of a racer any person is?
The highest drivers will be capable to address the pressures of Pink Bull, so let’s see how Hadjar fares when it’s time…
– Ed Hardy
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