Red Bull Racing’s Max Verstappen Rules Las Vegas, Sets Up Thrilling Championship Finale

The neon lights of Las Vegas set the stage for a dramatic Grand Prix weekend, and it was Max Verstappen who stole the show. The Oracle Red Bull Racing driver wasted no time, diving past race leader Lando Norris into Turn 1 and never looking back. From there, Verstappen controlled the pace, managed his tires to perfection, and powered home to his sixth victory of the season—keeping his world title hopes alive with just two races remaining. The win became even sweeter when Norris was later disqualified for excessive skid‑block wear, leaving Verstappen just 24 points adrift in the championship fight.

Oracle Red Bull Racing

While Verstappen celebrated under the Vegas lights, teammate Yuki Tsunoda endured a frustrating weekend. A tire pressure issue in qualifying compromised his race, leaving him stuck in traffic and finishing 14th. Team Principal Laurent Mekies praised the squad’s execution and Verstappen’s flawless start, but admitted the team had “paid the price” for Saturday’s setback.

Verstappen himself reflected on the importance of his early move: “It was important to get ahead early. From there we did our own thing and stayed consistent. I had fun out there today.” Tsunoda, meanwhile, vowed to keep focusing on what he could control despite recent frustrations.

Visa Cash App Racing Bulls (AlphaTauri)

Across the paddock, Visa Cash App Racing Bulls enjoyed a weekend of mixed fortunes. Rookie Isack Hadjar continued to impress, delivering his best performance of the year with a calm and confident drive to eighth place, earning four valuable points. “We extracted everything we could,” Hadjar said, proud of the team’s clean execution in Vegas.

Teammate Liam Lawson was less fortunate. Contact in Turn 1 forced an early front‑wing change, dropping him down the order. Despite showing strong pace, Lawson could only recover to 16th. Team Principal Alan Permane acknowledged the disappointment but highlighted the positives, noting that the squad had once again proven they had a fast car and fast drivers.

Race Narrative

The race itself was filled with drama and strategy. Verstappen’s decisive move on Norris set the tone, while Red Bull’s tire management proved crucial, with the Mediums performing better than expected and giving the team flexibility. Hadjar’s conservative approach to tire wear paid off with points, while battles in the midfield kept Malaysia’s and Singapore’s rising stars in contention throughout the evening.

Looking Ahead

With Verstappen closing the gap in the standings and rookies like Hadjar proving their worth, the championship fight now heads to Qatar and Abu Dhabi with momentum and intrigue. Under the desert lights, fans can expect more fireworks as the season races toward its finale.