Charles Leclerc had a bittersweet race in Las Vegas after starting from pole. The Monegasque driver lost the lead to Sergio Perez after unfortunate safety car timing. Although Leclerc did take that place back, Max Verstappen passed him and went on to win the race.

Leclerc managed to get some benefit out of the Grand Prix on the last lap, though. The 5-time race winner passed Sergio Perez on the very last lap to take second place. Leclerc was disappointed with the result albeit overtaking Perez. In the post-race interview, Leclerc apologized for only finishing second but said he enjoyed the race anyway.

Leclerc said:

I'm sorry about the second place. I gave it all! On the other hand, I'm sure everyone really enjoyed the race. I really really enjoyed it.

Leclerc’s results have maximised Ferrari’s results when it comes to the Constructors’ Standings. The Tifosi team have inched closer to Mercedes for second place in the standings. Currently at 388 points, just four behind Mercedes, Ferrari will be aiming to outscore the 8x champion team in the final round at Abu Dhabi.

Max Verstappen breaks Mercedes record after Las Vegas GP victory

Max Verstappen incurred a penalty for pushing Charles Leclerc off the track at turn 1 of the Las Vegas Grand Prix. The Dutchman minimized his damages by pitting under the safety car and regaining the lead of the race a few laps later. Verstappen went on to win the race, equalling Sebastian Vettel’s all-time tally of 53 victories.

The win extended Max Verstappen’s ongoing record for most Grand Prix victories in a single season, currently at 18 wins in 2023. More significantly, the 3x World Champion broke a record that Mercedes had held from 2016 until 2023. The 8x Constructors Champions won 19 of the 2016 season’s 21 races, a tally that no team had equalled until Red Bull in 2023. 

With the win in Las Vegas, Red Bull takes their 2023 win count to 20 off the 21 rounds completed so far. The champion team has remained undefeated all season except at the Singapore Grand Prix, where Carlos Sainz took his second-ever Formula One victory.

In case you missed it:

• WATCH: “You’ve got a bright future ahead,” NFL legend Tom Brady cheers on F1 rookie Logan Sargeant after breakthrough qualifying result at the Las Vegas GP
• WATCH: “We go straight into the nightclub,” Max Verstappen has a hilarious conversation with the podium winners in the ‘cooldown car’ at the Las Vegas GP

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