Las Vegas race press
“Toughest win” for Verstappen, “lousy days” for Mercedes
November 20, 2023, 9:45 a.m
Max Verstappen also won the Formula 1 comeback race in Las Vegas. Despite a five-second penalty, the three-time world champion celebrated the 53rd victory of his career in an eventful Grand Prix with several safety car periods. Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc came in second place, Verstappen’s Mexican Red Bull teammate Sergio Pérez came third.
The weekend began with an embarrassing incident: In the first free practice session, an improperly covered manhole cover caused “enormously expensive” damage to Carlos Sainz’s Ferrari, as team boss Cedric Vasseur grudgingly commented. To make matters worse, the Spaniard was also penalized by ten places on the starting grid due to the resulting unauthorized modifications and had nothing to do with the outcome of the race.
The organizer is currently facing a lawsuit on suspicion of negligence. The international press writes:
Great Britain
“The Sun”: “Viva Max Vegas! Verstappen wins the Las Vegas Grand Prix in front of celebrities like David Beckham and Brad Pitt, while (Lewis) Hamilton only comes seventh. Another bad weekend for Mercedes (…).”
“The Telegraph”: “Max Verstappen took his 18th win in 21 races this season. But the world champion had to do it the hard way, being penalized for a first lap incident with Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc and then fighting his way back from fifth place, after a few safety cars disrupted everyone’s strategies.”
Spain
“Marca”: “In a race that was as crazy as it was spectacular and entertaining, Max Verstappen took the most difficult victory of the year at the Las Vegas Grand Prix.”
Italy
“Corriere dello Sport”: “At the Formula 1 Grand Prix in Las Vegas, Charles Leclerc’s Ferrari took second place behind world champion Max Verstappen. On the strip circuit, the Monegasque gave everything to get a result, but in the end it didn’t happen.”
France
“L’Equipe”: “For the return of Formula 1 to the USA to Miami and Austin, Las Vegas finally offered a great spectacle, from the first corner of the first lap to the last corner of the 50th. Max Verstappen, who started the race from second place on the grid, lay down Already in turn 1 with Charles Leclerc and even pushed the Monegasque over the track limit to take the lead.”
Austria
“Crown Newspaper”: “Verstappen top! Leclerc second after a crazy finish. (…) With his 53rd GP success, Verstappen moved level with Sebastian Vettel in third place in the leaderboard in the 21st and penultimate race of the season. Only Lewis Hamilton (103) and Michael Schumacher (91) was often on the top podium in the premier motorsport class.”
“Courier”: “Max Verstappen hits the jackpot in Las Vegas. The world champion had to fight hard in the gambling metropolis and took his 18th win of the season.”
Switzerland:
“View”: “Big Verstappen show in Las Vegas – Ouch, Valtteri Bottas in the Alfa-Sauber loses his seventh starting position in the first corner – last. At the front, Verstappen maneuvers his way to success in an irresistible manner. Even a broken car and a penalty can’t keep him from 53rd place . hold on to GP victory.”
“Tages-Anzeiger”: “Verstappen wins, Leclerc rewards himself in the last lap. Las Vegas demands entertainment from Formula 1 – and gets it. The world champion wins the night spectacle in front of the Ferrari driver. And the organizer is threatened with a lawsuit.”