The build-up to the race, Sunday morning Swedish time, has been disrupted by the fact that Red Bull forgot to bring a smaller rear wing to Las Vegas. But after a bleak performance in practice, Verstappen instead blamed the tires.
When Las Vegas hosted its first Formula 1 race in 41 years a year ago, Dutchman Max Verstappen had already secured the World Championship title. And he was moderately enthusiastic about the event in Las Vegas:
It's 99 percent show and 1 percent sports event, and I don't like that, he said.
He was not impressed by the track either.
Not directly many curves, not particularly interesting.
After winning, it seemed different, though:
It was really fun out there.
"There is good hope"
The Dutchman can secure his fourth consecutive F1 title on Sunday morning Swedish time, as the sixth driver in history to win at least four titles. This after a year that has been far from problem-free. The Red Bull driver won seven of the first ten races, but then went winless in ten before winning last in Brazil.
It was a welcome win for us, but this is very different, says Verstappen at the press conference this week.
We have definitely not had the fastest car in the last races, so we'll see what we can do here.
Verstappen leads the World Championship series with 62 points ahead of McLaren's Lando Norris with three races left to run. Norris needs to take three points more than Verstappen in Las Vegas to keep the World Championship alive.
It looks better in the championship, but we'll see over the weekend. There is good hope that it can go well, but I don't know how well, says Verstappen.
It was not only the spectacle, in true Las Vegas style, that made headlines last year. During the first practice, a manhole cover came loose, causing damage to Ferrari's Carlos Sainz's car, among others. Several spectators then sued Formula 1 for billions because the practice was delayed for a long time while all manhole covers were checked.
And the locals were furious about the roadblocks in the city, so they had to take long detours.
Win of 15 billion
The major economic win that the gaming and show city in Nevada made from the racing event has, however, silenced the critics. The win of approximately 15 billion kronor made the Formula 1 week the most lucrative in Las Vegas history.
Maybe new restaurants and bars – and a mini-golf course – in the paddock area can also appease critical drivers.
I'm looking forward to the weekend, says Verstappen.
