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Vegas Grand Prix Delivers Thrills, Twists, and a Post-Race Disqualification Shocker
LAS VEGAS, NV – The Las Vegas Grand Prix lit up the Strip on Saturday night, delivering a high-octane spectacle of speed and drama that culminated in an unexpected post-race twist. Max Verstappen of Red Bull Racing claimed victory, dominating the 50-lap race after seizing the lead early on from pole-sitter Lando Norris.
The Formula 1 machines roared down the iconic Las Vegas Strip at speeds exceeding 215 miles per hour, providing breathtaking wheel-to-wheel action for the third consecutive year. However, the celebrations were cut short for two top contenders hours after the checkered flag waved.
In a stunning overnight development, both Lando Norris and his McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri were disqualified from the race. Officials cited illegal “plank wear” on their cars, a violation of F1 regulations requiring the wooden skid blocks under the cars to maintain a minimum thickness of 9mm after a race. Norris had initially finished second, with Piastri in fourth.
This disqualification carries significant implications for the world championship battle, with only two Grand Prix races and one “sprint” remaining in the season. Norris, who previously held a comfortable lead, now finds himself just 24 points ahead of both Piastri and four-time world champion Verstappen, who are tied for second place with 366 points each. Norris currently stands at 390 points.
Before the disqualification, Norris expressed a mix of disappointment and optimism, stating, “I’m just pretty disappointed with today… Even when I feel like I had a bad day, today was still relatively a good day.”
The remaining two Grand Prix races in Qatar and Abu Dhabi will be crucial, with a maximum of 58 points still available. Verstappen, prior to the McLaren disqualifications, shared his focus: “The upcoming weekends, we’ll again try to win the race, and at the end of Abu Dhabi we’ll see where we end up.”
Norris initially lost positions at the start after an aggressive defense strategy backfired, allowing Verstappen and George Russell to overtake. While he later reclaimed a spot from Russell, he couldn’t challenge Verstappen and ultimately faced car issues that slowed his pace. Russell secured third place.
“I messed it up and made my life tougher into turn one,” Norris admitted. “But even after that, we just weren’t quick enough… I was pushing flat out and Max was still pulling away.”
Vegas Economy Gets a Boost, Celebrity Sightings Abound
Beyond the track drama, the Las Vegas Grand Prix weekend aimed to provide a much-needed economic boost for the city. Last year’s event generated an estimated $934 million in economic impact.
U.S. Rep.
Steven Horsford, D-Nev., emphasized the importance of the race, calling Las Vegas “the entertainment and sports capital.”
The event also drew a constellation of stars, including musicians Beyoncé and Jay-Z, actors Ben Affleck, Michael Douglas, and Naomi Campbell, NBA legends Magic Johnson and Jimmy Butler, and tennis star Taylor Fritz. Actress Catherine Zeta-Jones had the honor of waving the checkered flag. Even Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and FBI Director Kash Patel were spotted enjoying the F1 experience.
Pre-race highlights included Ferrari superstar Lewis Hamilton giving Beyoncé a thrilling “hot lap” around the circuit, with the music icon sporting a custom Louis Vuitton racing suit.
Rain-Soaked Qualifying and Paddock Drama
Friday’s qualifying session was a test of nerves as rain slicked the already low-grip track, making conditions treacherous. Drivers battled to stay on course, with Norris describing the experience as “nerve-wracking and scary.”
Off-track, the paddock buzzed with internal team drama. McLaren driver Oscar Piastri addressed an accidental Instagram repost of a quote from F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone suggesting McLaren “prefers” Norris due to his “high star quality.”
Piastri attributed it to an error, saying, “I woke up this morning and saw it. So I don’t know, maybe I accidentally did it.
Obviously, it was not intentional.”
Ferrari’s drivers, Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc, also weighed in on recent comments from Ferrari chairperson John Elkann, who urged them to “talk less and focus on driving.” Hamilton quipped he’s “always willing to do less media” and emphasized his unwavering dedication to driving. Leclerc clarified the comments were a positive message aimed at maximizing the team’s potential.
Despite a challenging race that saw him climb from last place to a points finish, Hamilton expressed his enjoyment of the Las Vegas experience. “I love coming to Vegas,” he said.
“I think it’s a really great city. Always get a great welcome here.
This is the biggest crowd I think we’ve seen, even though it’s quite cold.”
The Las Vegas Grand Prix continues to evolve, striving for a balance between sporting spectacle and entertainment. As Norris humorously put it, the initial events were so extravagant, “May as well be in Cirque du Soleil with what we were doing back then.”