WHY FERRARI HAS NO DEFEATIST LEWIS HAMILTON REMARKS AFTER LAS VEGAS GP

Lewis Hamilton was downbeat post-race in Las Vegas

Ferrari boss Fred Vasseur has claimed Lewis Hamilton‘s sullen comments at Formula 1‘s Las Vegas Grand Prix were a “normal” response to a disappointing weekend.

Hamilton’s tumultuous debut campaign with Ferrari reached a new low at the Las Vegas Strip Circuit as he was dumped out in Q1 with the slowest lap time in the wet.

Despite recovering 10 spots to come home in 10th, which became eighth once the McLaren drivers were excluded, Hamilton was downbeat when speaking post-race.

The Briton said that he took zero positives from his comeback drive, citing that he has encountered “22 bad weekends” across what has been his “worst season ever”.

However, Vasseur insisted that he saw little issue with Hamilton’s morose remarks, highlighting that such a demeanour is to be expected when the dust hasn’t settled.

“You know perfectly the system,” he told Motorsport Week. “The TV pen, five minutes after the race, when you have a tough race, it’s very harsh for them.

“I can perfectly understand the adrenaline, the emotion, and to have a comment a bit harsh at this stage of the weekend. And I would say that it’s normal.

“I don’t know if normal is the right word, but I prefer to have drivers being very open at the end of the race when you didn’t do the perfect job, when the car was not good, to say, ‘Okay, I’m frustrated’. And someone going to the TV pen saying, ‘I know, guys, the team is perfect, the car is good, blah, blah, blah’. In this case, you would be upset.

“You can’t blame them in any circumstances and I think it’s quite normal as a human, sometimes on the radio or just after the session, to be a bit, not upset, but to be a bit on the emotion.

“Now the most important is not what they say on the TV pen, it’s what they do on the Monday morning with the team to try to do better and to try to push the team to do better. This is more the job of the drivers than the TV pen.”

Vasseur has contended that various incidents over recent race weekends have conspired to generate results that haven’t mirrored Hamilton’s overall competitiveness.

“Yes, it’s true that on the mathematical side the last couple of weekends were very difficult with Brazil DNF, Mexico the penalty, and this one,” he acknowledged.

“But overall I think Mexico, Austin, it was probably also the best weekend of Lewis in terms of pure performance.

“But now it’s true for the team also and we didn’t put everything together the last two hours of the weekend, and it’s why on the mathematical side and on the championship we did a huge step down.

“But in terms of pure performance I think it’s also why we are not in so bad shape compared to the mid-season.

“I can understand the reaction from Lewis just after the race, but we just have to calm down, to discuss and to be focused on the next two, because the next two we will be back.

“Keep in mind also that Lewis was there in FP1, in FP3 with the pace was good and we have to build up the weekend like this and to start from P20 is not the best way to have a good result.”

Ferrari insists Hamilton struggles not down to ‘performance’

And while he has ruled out his prospects improving over the remaining races, Vasseur believes a clean weekend is the sole thing eluding the seven-time F1 champion.

“Today it’s difficult, but if you have a look on the last couple of races that we are speaking about, Mexico it’s a matter of [a] penalty that he was able to be on the podium,” he reiterated.

“I don’t think that we have to change completely, it’s a matter more to put everything together and I think we are struggling to have a clean weekend.

“But it’s either the penalty or contact with [Franco] Colapinto [in Brazil] or the quali yesterday and it’s not pure performance, not only pure performance.

“For sure we have to improve on performance, this is clear, but it’s more the way you build up the weekend and how you do the expectations and the track preparation.”

Vasseur has conceded that the results not matching the high hopes that Hamilton harboured upon his arrival at the team have contributed to his emotional outbursts.

Asked whether he thinks Hamilton not hitting the heights that he is accustomed to has caused his pride to be hurt to a certain extent, the Frenchman responded: “Yes.

“I think you can understand that it’s normal that Lewis is not happy with P10 in Vegas and Ferrari is not happy with P10 in Vegas and Ferrari is not happy with P6 in Vegas.

“But now the reaction is to work together to try to do a better job next week and it’s the life of the team.

“If you remember, Max [Verstappen] was P11 in Budapest and it was not the absolute drama,” referencing the turnaround Red Bull has managed since the summer break.

“We need to keep this approach and to come back again and again and to try to push again and again and to try to do a better job.

“The frustration is normal. I would be worried if we didn’t have this kind of frustration when we are doing P10.”

- Taylor Powling

BORTOLETO HANDED FIVE-PLACE GRID PENALTY FOR HIS COLLISION WITH STROLL

Following his ambitious move at the start at the Las Vegas Grand Prix, Kick Sauber driver Gabriel Bortoleto has been handed a five-place grid penalty for next weekend's Qatar round.

Kick Sauber Bortoleto looked overly optimistic at the start, braking much later than his rivals as he approached the first coner. Braking late, he locked up and seemed to collide with the Aston Martin of Lance Stroll who sent the Alpine of Pierre Gasly into a spin.

While the Brazilian limped round for two laps, the damage on his car was too great and he pulled into the pits to retire for the second straight race.

The stewards investigated the matter and elected to hand out a five-place grid penalty to Bortoleto who will serve it at next weekend's Qatar Grand Prix.

„The Stewards reviewed positioning/marshalling system data and video evidence. The driver of Car 5 braked extremely late and as a result collided with Car 18.

„Even though this was a Lap 1 Turn 1 incident, mitigating circumstances do not exist and hence the standard 10 second penalty would have applied however as Car 5 retired, the penalty is converted into a grid penalty for the next Race in which the driver participates, in accordance with our guidelines," read the FIA's statement.

Reflecting on his unfortunate mistake at the start of the Las Vegas Grand Prix, Bortoleto admitted that he "misjudged the braking point by a few metres."

“First of all, I would like to apologise to Lance [Stroll]. It was my fault – I had a strong launch and went for a move on the inside of the Williams, but by the time I committed, I misjudged the braking point by a few meters and it was already too late to slow the car down properly.

"I went in a bit long, had no angle to make the corner, and ended up hitting him. It’s a shame, because the weekend seemed promising until qualifying, and then the mistake on lap one ruined both our races.

"I just need to put everything together now for the remaining two races of the season – clean laps, clean weekends – because not finishing these last two races meant losing track experience I should have been gaining. I’ll learn from this, reset, and make sure to come back to the performance levels I've shown before as we come to Doha next week.”

- Balazs Szabo

MCLAREN EXPLAINS REASONS FOR ITS SHOCK DOUBLE DISQUALIFICATION FROM THE LAS VEGAS

Hot on the heel of McLaren's shock double disqualification from the Las Vegas Grand Prix, Andrea Stella stressed that the Woking-based outfit did not attempt to circumvent the regulations, but it was simply caught out by the lack of running across the practice sessions which meant that the engineers could not assess the optimal ride height.

Championship runaway leader Lando Norris finished second at Saturday's Las Vegas Grand Prix behind reigning champion Max Verstappen.

His team-mate Oscar Piastri endured a more challenging evening at the Las Vegas Strip, ending up fourth, which saw him lose further valuable points in the championship battle.

However, the FIA issued a document after the 50-lap race in Sin City, confirming that McLaren would face a double investigation for both of Norris and Piastri’s cars following the Las Vegas Grand Prix.

The FIA's document read: "The skid wear of car numbers 81 and 04 was checked. The rearmost skid was measured on both cars according to the team’s legality documents submission in accordance with TD039 M, item 1.2 b) i).

"The measured thickness was less than 9 mm on both cars, which is the minimum thickness required by TR Article 3.5.9 e)."

After a lengthy investigation, the governing body confirmed that the British and the Australian driver have been disqualified from the 50-lap Las Vegas Grand Prix.

Reflecting on McLaren's shock result at the Las Vegas Grand Prix, team boss Andrea Stella stressed that the Woking-based outfit did not attempt to circumvent the regulations, but it was simply caught out by the lack of running across the practice sessions which meant that the engineers could not assess the optimal ride height.

"Following the Las Vegas Grand Prix, we were found in breach of Article 3.5.9 of the Technical Regulations, which requires a minimum of 9mm skid thickness. Car 4 was found in breach by a maximum of 0.12mm of the rearmost skid and Car 81 by a maximum of 0.26mm of the rearmost skid.

"During the race, both cars experienced unexpected, high levels of porpoising not seen in the Practice sessions, which led to excessive contact with the ground. We are investigating the reasons for this behaviour of the car, including the effect of accidental damage sustained by both cars, which we found after the race, and that led to an increase of movement of the floor.

"As the FIA noted, the breach was unintentional, there was no deliberate attempt to circumvent the regulations, and mitigating circumstances also existed.

"We apologise to Lando and Oscar for the loss of points today, at a critical time in their Championship campaigns after two strong performances from them all weekend. As a team, we also apologise to our partners and fans, whose support means so much.

"While this outcome is extremely disappointing, we remain fully focused on the last two races of the season," concluded the Italian.

- Balazs Szabo

LAS VEGAS GRAND PRIX 2025 RESULTS

 

FORMULA 1 DRIVER STANDINGS | POINTS AFTER THE LAS VEGAS GRAND PRIX

 

TRAVIS SCOTT, LEWIS HAMILTON, JAY-Z & BEYONCÉ | LAS VEGAS GRAND PRIX 2025

LAS VEGAS GRAND PRIX 2025 | STARTING GRID

 

 

FORMULA 1 CHAMPIONSHIP CONTENDERS | LAS VEGAS GRAND PRIX 2025

 

BREAKING NEWS: FORMULA ONE'S LAS VEGAS GRAND PRIX HALTED BY LOOSE MANHOLE COVER - WHICH ISN'T EVEN SHOWN IN TVCOVER- UP

Formula One’s flagship race in Las Vegas got off to a typically shaky start when a manhole cover worked loose during the second practice session headed by Lando Norris.

A delay of 19 minutes ensued in two red-flag phases.

Bizarrely, the incident at Turn 17 was not shown on the TV feed. Photographers, however, pictured the scene.

The first interruption lasted 16 minutes before the action restarted only to be suspended permanently three minutes from the end of the scheduled 9pm local-time finish – an echo of notorious problems during first practice on the Nevada race’s debut two years ago, when a drain became detached and ripped into Carlos Sainz’s Ferrari.

Second practice then was pushed back to 4am as the bleary-eyed departed while the problem was rectified.

The race runs over Las Vegas’s normal roads alongside such Strip landmarks as Caesars Palace, the MGM Grand and Bellagio Fountains, in the gambling capital of the world, and is prone to glitches that a permanent circuit would avoid.

The FIA, who govern F1 proceedings, offered live updates, saying: ‘Following a marshal report of a possible loose manhole cover before Turn 17, Race Control were unable to confirm this information from the CCTV available. The session has been red-flagged as a precautionary measure and Race Control personnel are currently on site assessing the situation.

‘Following inspection, we are confident everything is in a suitable condition to resume the session.’

But not so. Practice restarted briefly before being called off prematurely and for good.

The FIA added: ‘Some Race Control personnel remained on-site when the session was restarted.

‘They reported that the manhole cover was moving as cars passed over it, which led to the session being ended under red-flag conditions. Further inspections are underway.’

The Vegas race is F1’s own property – Formula One Management (FOM), who run the sport for American conglomerate Liberty Media, promote it, rather than charge a hosting fee to local authorities. Saudi Arabia, in contrast, one of the biggest payers among 24 venues, give more than £60million a year to host their event.

FOM, rather than the FIA, control the pictures that are shown – or, in this case, not shown about the errant manhole cover – on the world feed.

Qualifying for F1 Academy, the women’s series, later started after a short delay, as the grandstands emptied. This passed off without incident.

Norris could at least be satisfied to finish ahead of second-placed Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli during the truncated F1 session, with his nearest rival in the championship fight, Oscar Piastri, 14th, and Max Verstappen ninth.

Norris leads Piastri by 24 points and Verstappen by 49 with Las Vegas, Qatar (including a sprint race) and Abu Dhabi remaining. There are a maximum of 83 points to be collected.

- JONATHAN MCEVOY

TOP THREE F1 TEAMS SHINE IN FREE PRACTICE 2 | LAS VEGAS GRAND PRIX

 

F1 - LECLERC TOPS OPENING PRACTICE IN LAS VEGAS AHEAD OF ALBON AND TSUNODA

Ferrari's Charles Leclerc went quickest in the opening practice session for the 2025 FIA Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix with Williams' Alex Albon in second place ahead of Red Bull Racing's Yuki Tsunoda and Max Verstappen. Championship leader Lando Norris was sixth with title rival McLaren team-mate Oscar Piastrin P8. 

On a dusty, dirty track surface Isack Hadjar was the first to post a time with the French driver crossing the line in a conservative 1:46.042. His Racing Bulls team-mate Liam Lawson was also on track and the New Zealander was soon on the radio to tell his pit wall that the ‘green’ track was “so slippery”.

Williams’ Carlos Sainz took over at the top of the order thanks to a Medium-tyres time of 1:41.164. He was soon dislodged by Alpine’s Pierre Gasly and then by Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc who posted a time of 1:39.733 to move up to P1. 

Hadjar then returned to the top of the timesheet with a lap of 1:39.415 before being dislodged by Sainz who went six hundredths of a second quicker. The Racing Bulls driver responded, however, and once again made his way to P1 with a lap of 1:38.753.

With grip improving steadily, the lap times continued to drop and after Gasly, Sainz, Leclerc and Hadjar all cycled through top spot Sauber’s Nico Hülkenberg then dropped the benchmark to 1:37.370, on the Hard tyre.

It was then the turn of Red Bull Racing’s Yuki Tsunoda who posted a lap of 1:37.094 but the Japanese driver was ousted by title contending team-mate Max Verstappen who took top spot with a lap of 1:36.493 before working his way down to 1:35.776, but attention was focused on championship leader Lando Norris who clipped a barrier with his right rear wheel. The Briton was able to continue, however. 

With the halfway mark in sight the field began to move to performance runs on Soft tyres. With the red-banded tyres on board his Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton immediately jumped to P1 with a lap of 1:35.561. However, he was quickly ousted by Leclerc who hit the top with a lap of 1:35.281, which he then lowered to 1:35.121. 

Verstappen had also bolted on a set of Softs and the four-time champion made his way back to P1 with a time of 1:35.109. However, he was once again pushed back by team-mate Tsunoda who posted a lap of 1:35.071. 

There was no denying Leclerc, however, and he moved back to the top for the final time in the session with a lap of 1:34.802.

Williams’ Alex Albon delivered a late lap of 1:34.968 to rise above Tsunoda who ended the session in in P3, 0.269s off Leclerc, while Verstappen finished fourth ahead of Sainz. 

Norris initially failed to post a clean lap on the Softs but he eventually logged a lap of 1:35.258 to finish in sixth place, almost half a second off Leclerc. 

Isack Hadjar took seventh for Racing Bulls ahead of title contender Oscar Piastri, while Mercedes’ George Russell took ninth ahead of team-mate Kimi Antonelli. 

2025 FIA Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix

1 Charles Leclerc Ferrari 1:34.802 29 235.476

2 Alexander Albon Williams/Mercedes 1:34.968 0.166 23 235.064

3 Yuki Tsunoda Red Bull/Honda RBPT 1:35.071 0.269 27 234.809

4 Max Verstappen Red Bull/Honda RBPT 1:35.109 0.307 24 234.715

5 Carlos Sainz Williams/Mercedes 1:35.179 0.377 31 234.543

6 Lando Norris McLaren/Mercedes 1:35.258 0.456 25 234.348

7 Isack Hadjar Racing Bulls/Honda RBPT 1:35.299 0.497 30 234.247

8 Oscar Piastri McLaren/Mercedes 1:35.450 0.648 27 233.877

9 George Russell Mercedes 1:35.534 0.732 25 233.671

10 Kimi Antonelli Mercedes 1:35.538 0.736 30 233.661

11 Lewis Hamilton Ferrari 1:35.561 0.759 26 233.605

12 Pierre Gasly Alpine/Renault 1:35.589 0.787 26 233.537

13 Liam Lawson Racing Bulls/Honda RBPT 1:35.709 0.907 28 233.244

14 Fernando Alonso Aston Martin/Mercedes 1:35.746 0.944 23 233.154

15 Lance Stroll Aston Martin/Mercedes 1:35.894 1.092 25 232.794

16 Oliver Bearman Haas/Ferrari 1:35.990 1.188 28 232.561

17 Esteban Ocon Haas/Ferrari 1:36.123 1.321 30 232.239

18 Nico Hülkenberg Sauber/Ferrari 1:36.170 1.368 25 232.126

19 Gabriel Bortoleto Sauber/Ferrari 1:36.398 1.596 25 231.577

20 Franco Colapinto Alpine/Renault 1:36.758 1.956 28 230.71

 - FIA

LANDO NORRIS WILL TIE MCLAREN RECORD WITH 15OTH START AT LAS VEGAS GP

McLaren driver Lando Norris of Britain celebrates on the podium his first place in the Brazilian Formula One Grand Prix at the Interlagos race track in Sao Paulo, Sunday, Nov. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Andre Penner)

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Lando Norris will tie David Coulthard as the most-tenured driver in McLaren history when the lights go out for the Las Vegas Grand Prix, where the current Formula 1 points leader will make his 150th career start.

It’s taken the 26-year-old British driver seven seasons to catch Coulthard, an accomplishment he’s grateful to have reached. He’ll break the mark a week from Sunday when he starts the Qatar Grand Prix.

“It’s crazy, it’s a big number, matching DC for the number of races with McLaren. Qatar will be 151 so — I don’t know what the word would be — the most-racingest driver for McLaren?” Norris said Wednesday night at the wet and cold circuit that runs down the famed Las Vegas Strip.

“That’s something I am pretty proud of, it is quite an achievement, 150 in F1, this is my dream,” he continued. “It’s been my dream since I was a kid. To get that far is pretty incredible and time certainly flies.”

Norris is incredible position as he hits the milestone for McLaren — he holds a 24-point lead over teammate Oscar Piastri in the world championship standings with three races remaining. Four-time reigning world champion Max Verstappen sits 49 points back.

Norris and Piastri have already helped McLaren clinch a second consecutive constructors championship and the two have swapped the driver standings lead all season.

McLaren refuses to designate either of its drivers as the favorite and is giving Norris and Piastri an equal chance to win the title without giving preferential treatment to one over the other.

But since reclaiming the points lead from Piastri two races ago in Mexico City, there’s been speculation that tension has developed between the teammates. Norris said that isn’t the case, though, when asked specifically why he and Piastri haven’t partnered together much lately for the humorous social media vidoes McLaren has been making the last several years.

“I think the reason you see less videos is because we both asked to do less videos. We’re racing drivers, we want to come and drive and not make videos for social media,” Norris said.

He then explained it’s his nature to be friendly with teammates even if that’s not the norm in the cutthroat world of F1.

“It’s still the same and I’m very happy, I think we are both happy that that’s how it is,” Norris said. “It’s because we both have a lot of respect for one another and we both understand the position that we’re in. I feel like I’ve always gone on well with my teammates since go-karting — I’ve always wanted to because it just makes my life more fun, more enjoyable.

“We very, very much understand that we work for McLaren. We want the best for the team. We work very hard, and you try and maximize your own performance more than anything. But then when we step out the car we can still have a joke. We still have laughs in our debriefs, and we still enjoy everything away from the track.”

Both have won seven times this season, but Piastri has slipped since winning the Dutch Grand Prix on the final day in August. In the six races since that victory, the Australian has only one podium finish — at the very next race at Monza — and arrived in Las Vegas with three consecutive fifth-place finishes.

“I’m looking forward to getting back in the car in Vegas. I’m concentrating on performance, building a strong weekend and maximizing every opportunity,” Piastri said.

His bland pre-race comments are on brand for Piastri, Norris said.

“We’re still very different people. He’s just very calm, down to earth, very relaxed. Always looks cool, and that’s something I admire quite a bit, how just plain sailing he is with a lot of things,” Norris said. “It’s a good attribute to have — always hard to read what mood he’s in. For me, you see more visually kind of the moods I’m in.”

Norris’ mood is terrific as a first career F1 title is in his reach. He said he feels fortunate to have had a poor start to the season because he’s turned it around at the right time, but he’s not ready to celebrate a championship yet.

“Everyone knows my approach is still just one race at a time,” Norris said. “I will treat it that way until the very end.”

- Jenna Fryer, The Associated Press

FLOOD WATCH ISSUED AS LAS VEGAS THREATENED BY MAJOR RAINFALL

Las Vegas has recently been hit by flooding. Here’s a look at the current weather forecast for the Nevada weekend.

On Monday, a flood watch was issued as heavy rain is expected across the Las Vegas Valley this week, raising the risk of flooding.

The alert is set to remain in effect at least until Wednesday, by which time conditions are expected to improve, allowing the weekend’s events to take place safely.

Las Vegas isn’t exactly known for being flood-proof, though the rain expected this week is usually well below the city’s historical November average.

Friday’s running will kick off during European nighttime with the first two practice sessions. Temperatures are set to hover under mostly cloudy skies, with a few late showers giving a 31% chance of rain. Winds will be light from the north at 6 mph, and humidity sits near 67%. While it’s unclear if any rain will hit the track during sessions, teams may have to contend with a slightly damp surface early in the evening.

On Saturday morning, showers are expected to clear well before the evening action, leaving cold but dry conditions. By nightfall, the temperature will remain around 46°F, with rain chances dropping to just 11%, northwesterly winds at 7 mph, and humidity at 61%, setting the stage for a dry session.

Sunday, race day, is set as the most stable weather of the weekend. Partly cloudy skies are expected, temperatures dipping to 45°F, and virtually no risk of rain. Light northwesterly winds at 6 mph and 57% humidity should provide near-perfect conditions for the race.

2025 Las Vegas Grand Prix: start time and full schedule

The Nevada race is always one-of-a-kind, largely because of its timing, with an eight-hour difference between Europe (GMT) and Las Vegas (PST).

Another distinctive feature is that the U.S. race kicks off on Saturday evening, breaking from the usual Sunday race tradition.

Here’s the full schedule for the weekend.

- Tobia Elia

MIAMI GP'S EYE-POPPING FOOD AND DRINK PRICES ON MENU INCLUDING STAGGERING COST OF A BEER 🍺

F1 fans are having to dig deep at this weekend's Miami Grand Prix, where steak sandwiches and pizza cost around £20 each.

A weekend at the Miami Grand Prix isn't cheap for fans (Image: Getty)

The staggering costs of food and drink at the Miami Grand Prix this weekend have been revealed. Formula 1 is making its first of three trips to the United States this year, with the US Grand Prix in Austin and the Las Vegas Grand Prix set to follow later in the season.

Despite the Hard Rock Stadium circuit, home to the Miami Dolphins, not being a favourite among drivers, the glitzy location draws in A-list celebrities and wealthy individuals. This trend is set to continue for the foreseeable future after F1 extended its contract with the Miami GP until 2041, marking it as the longest race agreement in the sport. Race-goers are facing steep prices for refreshments from the numerous vendors around the 3.3-mile circuit. For instance, a steak sandwich will cost you a hefty $30 (£22), while the 'budget option' turkey sandwich comes in at $18 (£13.50). Want a side of fries? That'll be an extra $6 (£4.50).

Pizza enthusiasts can expect to pay $29 (£22) for an Arroz Verde with chicken, while a basic cheese pizza is priced at $22 (£16.50). Chicken aficionados will need to fork out $29 for a three-piece 'Make it Fancy' dish topped with caviar.

Customers will need to dig deep into their pockets for a Chicken Royale with cheese, priced at $24 (£18), while an Ultimate Game Day hot dog is slightly more affordable at $14 (£10.50).

If you're looking to quench your thirst with a Heineken, be ready to fork out $13 (just under £10) for a 16oz serving, while a domestic beer will set you back slightly less at $12 (£9). For those needing to beat the Florida heat, a Frozen Margarita or Strawberry Daiquiri comes with a steep price tag of $20 (£15).

On circuit, Kimi Antonelli took a surprise pole for Saturday's sprint race. The young Italian, only six rounds into his debut season after replacing Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes, edged out championship leader Oscar Piastri by 0.045 seconds.

Lando Norris, Piastri's teammate at McLaren, secured third place, trailing Antonelli by 0.100 sec, with new father Max Verstappen taking fourth spot. George Russell, in the other Mercedes, rounded out the top five. Ferrari drivers Charles Leclerc and Hamilton followed, landing sixth and seventh on the grid.

Antonelli said: "It was a very intense qualifying, and I have felt really good since this morning's practice session. The last lap was mighty.

"I pulled it all together and I am delighted to get my first pole. It will be a different feeling to start on the front row and I cannot wait to see how we do in the sprint race, and in qualifying for the Grand Prix, too."

Antonelli, who was born five years after double world champion Fernando Alonso, who qualified 10th here, became the youngest F1 driver to take a pole position – albeit it only for a sprint, rather than Sunday’s main event.

Norris, who admits he needs to kick his stuttering championship challenge into gear, will again start behind Piastri for the sprint race, where points are awarded for the top eight finishers. Meanwhile, Verstappen was back in his Red Bull cockpit for the first time as a father after he announced the birth of his first child, Lily, with his girlfriend Kelly Piquet.

MAX VERSTAPPEN FIRES SHOTS AT LANDO NORRIS AS MCLAREN MAN STRONGLY DISAGREES

Max Verstappen made some bold comments in Las Vegas (Image: Getty)

Max Verstappen believes that he would have won the World Championship sooner than in Las Vegas, had he been driving a McLaren car all year - a theory that title rival Lando Norris strongly denies.

The Dutchman clinched his fourth consecutive Drivers’ Championship title during the Las Vegas Grand Prix on Sunday with two races to spare after finishing fifth, one place above Norris on the road.

The two championship protagonists have been trading blows since the Miami Grand Prix, but ultimately, it was the cushion built up over the first five races that saw the reigning world champion over the line. Heading into the final two events of the year, Verstappen has won just once since the Spanish Grand Prix back in June.

During this period, Norris added two race victories to his maiden triumph in Miami and was made to rue missed opportunities in Austria, Silverstone and Monza. The pace advantage enjoyed by McLaren has allowed the Woking-based team to take a 24-point lead in the Constructors’ Championship heading into the Qatar Grand Prix.

According to Verstappen, he would have done what Norris could not and sealed the World Championship title in the MCL38. “Yes, even sooner,” he said, having stated: “Things like that only motivate me. If people are critical and think I can only win in the best car, I prove them wrong."

Verstappen also believes that he would have won the 2021 title before the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, had he been driving Lewis Hamilton’s Mercedes machinery. “[I would have won] in 2021 too. 2022 might have been tricky, they (Ferrari) were a bit too fragile for that, I think. 2023 I don't think so.”

This theory, however, has been brushed aside by an adamant Norris. “No, definitely not,” he told The Telegraph in Las Vegas. “I mean, no one ever in the history of Formula One has come back from the size of deficit I had.

“No one. Ever. And there have been much bigger swings of performance of cars in the past than there has been now. The advantage they had in the beginning of the season over everyone was way more than we’ve had.”

Fortunately for Norris and McLaren, his team are still in with a chance of taking home silverware in the form of the Constructors’ Championship, although the momentum is with Ferrari and after concerning P6 and P7 finishes in Las Vegas, the onus is on Andrea Stella’s squad to bounce back in Qatar.

- HARRY SMITH

FIA CHANCE F1 RULES AT LAS VEGAS GRAND PRIX TO CLOSE MERCEDES AND FERRARI LOOPHOLE

Toto Wolff and Mercedes have been affected by an FIA directive (Image: Getty)

The FIA has reportedly imposed a technical directive outlawing the use of protective plates over skid blocks ahead of the Las Vegas Grand Prix. The ban, which will affect Mercedes, Ferrari and Haas, was initiated after a Red Bull complaint.

The skid blocks are situated under the body of the car, but when drivers run over abrasive curbs during Grands Prix, they can be slowly worn down - particularly if the team in question runs their car lower to the ground, which is often synonymous with generating higher downforce.

At the United States Grand Prix in 2023, Mercedes and Ferrari experienced the worst possible consequences of this. Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc were both disqualified after finishing on the podium after a post-race inspection revealed that the planks on their underbodies had been whittled down below the FIA’s legal limit.

In an effort to avoid this, an Auto Motor und Sport report reveals that, following a complaint from Red Bull, roughly half of the grid was discovered to be in breach of the regulations regarding skid block protection.

In response, the FIA sent teams a technical directive ahead of the Las Vegas GP outlawing their usage. This will be bad news for Mercedes and Ferrari, who could have to raise the ride height of their cars to comply with the regulations, bleeding lap time in the process.

McLaren and Red Bull were not on the list of teams affected by the technical directive, although Lando Norris will need a bigger boost if he is to turn around his championship fight with Max Verstappen. The gap between the pair stands at 62 points with three rounds remaining.

"It was a defining moment for the championship,” he confessed in Las Vegas. “The door is almost shut. I was pretty down for a week after Brazil because there was the realisation that things are out of my control and not within reach and that was a tough moment.

"When your hopes and beliefs are so high, and then for them to get knocked down, that was pretty demoralising and not the best of feelings but you learn to accept that is life. I can survive, I can put up a fight, and that is what I will do.

“But at some point you know it is not going to go your way. You never know. I am not saying it is over and I wouldn’t until it is, but it is very far out of reach. I need a lot of luck. I have to win three races, and hope Max fails to finish in those three races."

- HARRY SMITH

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