Red Bull instructs Max Verstappen to not fight Lewis Hamilton at Las Vegas GP
The Red Bull pit wall made it clear to Max Verstappen that he could not battle Lewis Hamilton during the Las Vegas GP.

Max Verstappen, Lewis Hamilton (via IMAGO)
Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton have one of the fiercest rivalries in Formula 1. The Dutch driver has had plenty on on-track skirmishes with the seven-time world champion. However, Red Bull made it clear that Verstappen could not fight the Briton at the Las Vegas GP.
Midway through the Las Vegas GP, Lewis Hamilton was approaching the Red Bull driver. Max Verstappen‘s RB20 seemed to have no pace to actually compete with the seven-time world champion. The Red Bull pit wall even reminded Verstappen to not lose sight of the main aim of the race. As the reigning world champion is set to win his fourth title this weekend.
Max, just don’t lose sight of our aim today.
Gianpiero Lambiase told Max Verstappen on team radio
Max Verstappen obliged the order from the pit wall. The 27-year-old confirmed that he will be focusing on his own race. The Dutch driver understood the importance of not picking an unnecessary battle with Lewis Hamilton.
Yeah yeah.. I’ll do my own race.
Max Verstappen replied
GP: Max, just don't lose sight of our aim today.
— RBR News ???? (@redbulletin) November 24, 2024
Hamilton overtook Max with better pace?#LasVegasGP
Max Verstappen was ‘trying’ his best at Las Vegas GP
The Vegas street race is one of the most challenging weekends on the calendar. Even Verstappen has struggled somewhat this weekend. The Red Bull driver’s race engineer GP reminded the Dutchman about Turn 11. The 27-year-old insisted that he was doing his best to maintain pace. But the track situation was simply not that easy.

I’m trying, it’s not very easy.
Max Verstappen said on team radio
GP: Max, think about what I said at Turn 11.
— RBR News ???? (@redbulletin) November 24, 2024
Max: Hey, I'm trying, it's not very easy.#LasVegasGP
Certainly, Max Verstappen managed to keep things clean in Vegas. The Red Bull driver tried to push without compromising his title chances. However, the 27-year-old would’ve liked to be in contention for the race win.