Although Max Verstappen and Red Bull were pretty much crowned champions from the outset of this Formula One season, there is still a lot of suspense to be found in the season’s final five races.
At the Qatar Grand Prix, Max Verstappen put an end to the “title race” for 2023. At least mathematically, that is.
In reality, the season had not even begun when it became obvious that no one would be able to catch the Dutchman. Sergio Perez was broken by his victory in the Miami Grand Prix at the beginning of May after starting ninth on the grid.
Red Bull won the constructors’ championship, but that result was obvious even before that. After the opening race in Bahrain, George Russell predicted that they would
More Red Bull records?
Despite winning his third F1 crown, Verstappen’s work this year is not yet done. He already has 14 Grand Prix wins to his name and is one shot away from equaling the current record of 15 wins in a season… which he set last year. Given his form, it would be surprising if he doesn’t break it even a few times.
His Red Bull team is also vying for the same record. The record for wins by a manufacturer in a season is 19, achieved by Mercedes in 2016 when Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg gave it their all to battle for the drivers’ crown. Red Bull ranked 16th, having only failed once in Singapore.
Hamilton vs Perez.
With the pace advantage the Red Bulls haveĀ this season, no driver other than Sergio Perez can even come close to second at this stage of the campaign. But the Mexican driver’s difficulties have opened up opportunities for Hamilton, who is only 30 points behind.
PĆ©rez had a golden opportunity to deal a blow to the Briton’s chances of overtaking him before the end of the year, when Hamilton spun out at the first corner after a collision with teammate Russell. But he only finishedĀ 10th and scored a single point, his race severely hamperedĀ by no less than three separate penalties for repeatedly exceeding track limits.
Could Lando finally do it?
His talent is undeniable, but Lando Norris has yet to win an F1 race after 99 starts. He came close a few times, but breaking that duck was a challenge. With McLaren progressing this season and becoming a serious challenger for Red Bull in recent rounds, a start could finally be in order for the 23-year-old.
Make no mistake, Verstappen won’t be giving any gifts – even though Norris is his best friend in F1. But if the Dutchman makes a rare mistake or suffers a mechanical problem in one of the final five races, then Norris and his rookie team-mate Oscar Piastri, enjoying an exceptional debut season, appear to is the best place to take advantage.
Viva Las Vegas!
There is a new glamorous event on the F1 calendar to replace Monaco. The sport will be staging a much higher-profile event than the disastrous Caesars Palace Grands Prix of the early 1980s, which was held in the parking lot of the eponymous hotel. The sport returns to the Nevadan city after a more than 40-year absence.
This time, the vehicles will be speeding down a Saturday night on the Las Vegas Strip. The street track’s suitability for racing is still up in the air, but the event itself ought to be eye-opening.