Grand Prix of Las Vegas: A podium and plenty of points for the Scuderia Ferrari.

19-11-2023 12:15 -

The Grand Prix was an adrenalin rush from start to finish, with excitement right from the start, when Max Verstappen ran Charles off the track at turn 1 to take the lead and Carlos spun at the same corner. On lap 2, the Safety Car came out after Lando Norris crashed and, given they had both slipped down the order, Sergio Perez and Carlos pitted, switching from Medium to Hard tyres. Verstappen was handed a 5 second penalty, but Charles didn't wait and with his SF-23 on-song, he retook the lead on track with a great passing move at turn 14. He then pitted on lap 21 for Hard tyres and, at this point, he was the virtual leader given that the only driver ahead of him were Perez, who with Hard tyres fitted on lap 2, would therefore have to make a further stop, and Lance Stroll, yet to pit. The Monegasque had Verstappen under control, the Dutchman having changed tyres five laps earlier. However, on lap 26 the Safety Car reappeared while debris was cleared away following a collision between Verstappen and George Russell. Having only just changed tyres, Charles stayed out on track and went into the lead, but the neutralisation meant both Red Bull drivers were able to stop losing far less time. Therefore, at the restart, Perez and Verstappen were able to push without paying too much attention to tyre management, while Leclerc was on older Hards. Carlos also benefited, fitting a new set of Hards and going on the attack.

Leclerc began to experience graining earlier than his two rivals and Verstappen was able to get by on lap 36, but Charles gritted his teeth and kept fighting, matching the Dutchman's pace so that the gap never got bigger than 2.5 seconds and he was also able to fend off Perez's attempts to pass. Then on lap 43 it seemed that second place was lost as Charles outbraked himself at turn 14 as he tried to defend from the Mexican, who managed to get ahead. But once again, Leclerc dug deep and caught Perez when he too started to suffer with graining. For the final three laps, the pair put on a thrilling show as they fought it out and on the final lap, Charles got ahead with a breath-taking move at turn 14 to secure a very well deserved second place. Carlos was also very aggressive in the closing stages, passing Pierre Gasly and Russell, the latter having a five second penalty added to his race time for the collision with Verstappen. Today's sixth place puts the Spaniard back in fourth spot in the Drivers' championship. The definitive championship standings will be decided in one week's time at the final round of the 2023 season.


Source: ferrari.com