Formula 1 enters a new era today with the Las Vegas Grand Prix at the championship’s penultimate round.
The series’ third visit to America this season marks F1’s return to Vegas after the failed Caesars Palace Grand Prix in 1981 and 1982.
Today’s circuit utilises the iconic Strip as F1 attempts to break into the American market and might provide some challenging, unusually cool temperatures.
Three-time world champion Max Verstappen eagerly anticipates the Grand Prix as he looks to equal four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel on 53 wins.
“It’s great to be here in Las Vegas, the penultimate race of the season.”
“This race is, of course, a massive unknown for everyone. We don’t know what to expect, but we’ll approach it like we do any other weekend. We, of course, don’t have the historical data to look at and compare, so there will be a lot to learn.”
“The temperatures will also be very low on the track at night, so it will be interesting to see how the RB19 performs in these conditions.”
“I’m looking forward to racing down the strip, too; that will look really cool.”
The Dutchman’s teammate Sergio Perez recovered to fourth place last time out in Brazil but failed to snatch third place from Fernando Alonso in an inferior Aston Martin.
Despite that setback, Perez is looking to see off Lewis Hamilton in their battle for second in the Drivers’ Championship and give Red Bull their first 1-2 in the standings.
“Vegas is going to be a crazy race! You can already see the whole city has been taken over by Formula One, and it will be unique racing around the streets of Vegas.”
“I already had a taste of it when the Team ran the RB7 here last year to launch the race, and it was strange having been here as a tourist to be driving down the Strip in an F1 car.”
“Vegas will also present some challenges to us; the track will be cold, and the car will run a lot differently than usual due to the temperatures.
“It’s something we all need to overcome, though, and we have been working hard as a Team behind the scenes on the set-up and prep required to make this weekend a successful one.”
“For me, I want to secure second in the Championship – it would be a fun place to do it!”
