Three narrative threads from the Las Vegas Grand Prix that don't revolve around Max Verstappen

 

Max Verstappen secured his third consecutive Formula One World Drivers’ Championship more than a month ago, and Red Bull secured the constructors’ championship back in late September.

Nevertheless, there are still compelling sporting reasons to tune in to Saturday’s Las Vegas Grand Prix.

According to Matt Gallagher, co-host of the popular Formula One podcast "P1 with Matt and Tommy," the new racecourse, combined with ongoing trends in the sport, could make the inaugural Las Vegas Grand Prix a memorable event.

“I think there’s plenty to look forward to from a race perspective,” Gallagher remarked.

Here are three storylines to watch as the inaugural Las Vegas Grand Prix unfolds:

Competition for the runner-up position.

Mercedes driver and seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton currently holds the third position in the standings, trailing Red Bull’s Sergio Perez by 32 points. Dismissing any speculation about challenging for second place, Hamilton asserted on Wednesday that the gap is too substantial to overcome in the remaining two races.

Hamilton is also embroiled in another contest for second place, but this time in the constructors’ championship, where Mercedes leads Ferrari by 20 points. The constructors’ championship determines the distribution of prize money at the end of the season, and the financial stakes between securing second and third place can be significant, amounting to millions of dollars.

Reflecting on the season, Hamilton commented, “I think we’ve still had an amazing year given the car that we’ve had. We never thought we’d be fighting for second in the constructors’ and knocking on the door of the most dominant car probably of our era, so I’m grateful just being where we are.”

Mercedes has rebounded from a challenging 2022, where it finished third, significantly trailing Red Bull and Ferrari. As the team heads into the Las Vegas Grand Prix, it is looking to recover from a disappointing Sao Paulo Grand Prix in Brazil, where Hamilton finished eighth and teammate George Russell retired due to technical issues. In contrast, Ferrari's Carlos Sainz secured sixth place in Brazil, while teammate Charles Leclerc crashed during the formation lap.

Norris pursues his inaugural victory.

McLaren driver Lando Norris has experienced a notable transformation in 2023. The British team faced early-season struggles, with Norris finishing 17th in four of the first seven races.

Since the British Grand Prix on July 9, Norris has undergone a remarkable turnaround and is arguably the best-performing driver in Formula 1 outside of the dominant Verstappen. Over the past 11 races, he has secured seven podium finishes, including six second-place performances.

Gallagher has labeled the 2023 season as a "breakthrough year" for Norris, highlighting his potential as a championship contender with the right car.

Despite his impressive performances, the 24-year-old British driver is still in pursuit of his first career win. The Las Vegas Grand Prix, with its uncertainties, presents a promising opportunity for Norris to finally achieve the top step.

“I’d just like to win,” Norris expressed. “It doesn’t matter where, but you don’t do anything different because it’s Vegas to try and win. I’ve been doing my best since I started Formula One. Your time comes eventually, but that’s about it.”

Sargeant's position or Sargeant's place.

Nineteen out of the 20 seats for the 2024 season have been officially determined. Logan Sargeant, the only American driver in the lineup, is the sole participant whose position for the upcoming year remains undecided.

Sargeant has faced challenges in his rookie season with Team Williams, currently holding the 21st position in the standings despite there being only 20 regular drivers. During a five-race stretch when Liam Lawson replaced the injured Daniel Ricciardo as AlphaTauri's reserve, Lawson outperformed Sargeant.

While Sargeant secured his only point by finishing 10th at the United States Grand Prix on October 22 in Austin, Texas, Williams has made it clear that improvement is essential across the final two races for him to be confirmed for the next season.

“There is quite a bit of pressure on his shoulders,” remarked Gallagher. “But he just needs to finish races and have consistent weekends.”

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