Three Talking Points Ahead of the Las Vegas Grand Prix
The Las Vegas Grand Prix (GP) is the first of three final races in the 2024 Formula One (F1) season and could be the defining event of the campaign.
Max Verstappen is gearing up to retain his crown as world champion for the fourth consecutive season after fending off an admirable challenge from Lando Norris.
The British star still has an outside chance of causing a massive upset, but the 62-point gulf between him and Verstappen may prove to be insurmountable.
Read on as we look at three talking points ahead of the big race, starting with an Australian driver who has given the title contenders plenty to think about this year.
Oscar Piastri Aiming to Triumph in Las Vegas
Piastri has been a standout performer this season, proving he has what it takes to compete with the best drivers in the world. He could be one to watch at the upcoming Las Vegas GP.
The spotlight is currently on his McLaren teammate Norris, whose dreams of becoming a world champion hang on a knife edge, but the British driver is determined to fight until the end.
Piastri will do his best to help his teammate beat title favourite Max Verstappen, but the Aussie star will also be aiming to secure a strong result himself.
The 23-year-old has played a key role in supporting the team’s charge, but he’s out to prove he’s more than a back-up and will fancy his chances of gatecrashing the top three.
Piastri is an aggressive driver who knows how to adapt to different races despite the conditions. That makes him unpredictable, which gives him a competitive edge ahead of the Las Vegas GP.
The Aussie star undoubtedly has the potential to shake things up in Las Vegas, and the betting community in his homeland has taken notice.
Punters have been tracking Piastri’s odds closely on the top betting sites in Australia, and they will be wagering heavily on him emerging victorious in Vegas.
Team Haas Facing Pressure to Perform on Home Soil
Team Haas is preparing for a homecoming in the Las Vegas GP, and the fans will demand nothing short of a stellar performance from the American-owned team.
Racing on home soil gives Haas the chance to make a bold statement in front of a crowd eager to see the team succeed at the top level.
They have struggled to consistently push up the grid against teams with more sizeable budgets and have settled for a midfield slot.
Heading into the Las Vegas GP, Haas will fancy their chances of leapfrogging Alpine into sixth place with just three points separating them.
A sublime performance on home turf woiuld help their cause, and the onus falls on Kevin Magnussen and Nico Hulkenberg to make an impression.
The energy of a home crowd and support from the American fan base may provide an extra boost for Haas. Fans will be out in full force to cheer on their team, and this support could inspire the drivers and crew to produce an exceptional performance.
Max Verstappen Can Clinch the F1 Title in Las Vegas
Verstappen is now within touching distance of his fourth F1 drivers' championship after a remarkable comeback drive from 17th on the grid to win the Sao Paulo Grand Prix.
The gap that Norris had been chipping away at has become a chasm in the wake of Verstappen's 62nd F1 victory that opened up a 62-point cushion to the McLaren driver.
Verstappen will be keen to protect his lead with three races left. After fending off an admirable title challenge from Norris, his path to the crown is clearer.
Las Vegas will also host the final sprint race of the season, which gives drivers a chance to bag some extra points, but Verstappen’s commanding lead is near-insurmountable.
The Belgian-Dutch driver is on the cusp of establishing himself in elite company alongside F1 legends such as Alain Prost and fellow Red Bull champion Sebastian Vettel.
Verstappen could clinch that fourth title in Las Vegas, but he must be holding a 60-point lead over Norris to end the title race before F1 heads to the Middle East.
Norris is still hoping to defy the odds, but it would take the mother of all capitulations for Verstappen to lose it from here.
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