Crunch time for Piastri as Verstappen wins in Vegas
Joanna Guelas |
Showed up by a red-hot Max Verstappen at the Las Vegas Grand Prix, Australia’s Formula One star Oscar Piastri is well aware it’s now or never in his bid for a maiden championship.
McLaren driver Piastri settled for fourth as Verstappen produced a flawless drive to win the 50-lap race on Sunday afternoon (AEDT) and keep his bid for a fifth-straight title alive.
Red Bull heavyweight Verstappen started second on the grid, but took the lead from McLaren’s polesitter Lando Norris after a mistake from the championship leader on the opening lap.
Verstappen, third in the standings behind Piastri, claimed his sixth win of the year with a monster 20.741-second buffer.
It is his 69th-career victory and eighth consecutive podium.
Mercedes driver George Russell was third after fierce attempts to usurp Norris, with rookie teammate Kimi Antonelli crossing the line in fourth.
A five-second penalty to Antonelli for a false start promoted Piastri to fourth.
Norris, while missing an opportunity to claim three straight wins from pole, at least extends his lead to 30 points over his Australian teammate.
Verstappen is 42 points adrift leading into the final two rounds in Qatar and Abu Dhabi.
Piastri has now failed to podium in his past six races, after leading the championship by a season-high 34 points following the Dutch Grand Prix in August.
“I don’t really know what to think,” Piastri told Sky Sports.
“Obviously, I need more than (cutting into the lead) now.
“The championship picture is what it is. We’ll see what I can do.”
Verstappen was similarly wary of getting ahead of himself, well aware Norris can wrap up the championship in Qatar.
“It’s still a big gap, but we always just try to maximise everything that we’ve got and this weekend, that was first,” Verstappen said.
To nab a maiden title with a round to spare, McLaren star Norris will need to ensure Piastri does not outscore him by five points in Qatar.
Verstappen can also deny Norris if he scores 17 more points.
Norris had brilliantly defended against Verstappen off the starting line but went too wide on the way to turn one, with the gap also allowing compatriot Russell to sneak into second.
“I let Max have a win. I let him go, let him have a nice race,” Norris joked.
“No, I just braked too late – it was my F-up.”
Piastri was just as unlucky in a chaotic start, making contact with New Zealand’s Liam Lawson before tumbling to seventh.
Racing Bull rookie Lawson had suffered heavy damage to his front right wing and finished 16th after qualifying sixth.
Piastri escaped sanction for the collision, with Lawson appearing to turn into the side of the McLaren after braking heavily to avoid Russell.
The Melburnian had been handed a controversial 10-second penalty a fortnight ago in Brazil for a three-way crash with Antonelli and Charles Leclerc, in a huge blow to his title hopes.
Sauber rookie Gabriel Bortoleto and Aston Martin driver Lance Stroll did not cross the finish line in Las Vegas after a race-ending collision on the opening lap.
Bortoleto is set to come under investigation for making contact with Stroll at the first corner.
Ferrari racer Lewis Hamilton recovered from 19th following a disastrous qualifying performance to finish 10th, but the seven-time world champion cut a dejected figure.
“It’s been the worst season ever, and no matter how much I try, it just keeps getting worse,” Hamilton said.
AAP
