F1 Las Vegas LIVE: Leclerc leads after Norris crash
Las Vegas Sphere dressed in giant F1 helmet ahead of inaugural grand prix
F1’s highly anticipated Las Vegas Grand Prix is back on track after a disastrous opening day had to be suspended to fix a loose manhole cover, as Charles Leclerc claimed pole in qualifying on Saturday.
The first session of F1’s newest event had only been going for eight minutes before Carlos Sainz’s car stopped on the lengthy Vegas strip. Replays show his Ferrari car, at speeds of over 200mph, went over a loose drain cover before the Spaniard veered to the side and stopped the car due to substantial floor damage, and Ferrari were furious.
FP2 was delayed for more than two hours while the circuit was made safe, before the Ferrari pair of Charles Leclerc and Sainz topped the timings, with Max Verstappen only sixth. FP3 then saw Mercedes’ George Russell top the charts ahead of McLaren’s Oscar Pastri and Williams’ Logan Sargeant, with Ferrari way down the results after choosing to preserve their soft tyres.
But their true pace was revealed in qualifying as Leclerc and Carlos Sainz – who has a 10-place grid penalty after that FP1 incident – finished first and second, ahead of Red Bull’s Max Verstappen and Mercedes’ George Russell. But their teammates Sergio Perez and Lewis Hamilton suffered shock exits in Q2 and will start in the middle of the pack.
Follow live updates from the Las Vegas Grand Prix below and check the latest F1 odds and tips here.
Alpine’s wheel to wheel (Lap 35/50)
As a team Alpine will be very hapy with how this race it turning out. Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly are both firmly in the points but the two drivers come wheel to wheel as they compete for the best placements.
Ocon overtakes Gasly and the radio lights up. Think about the rest of the race comes the team instructions to both drivers.
Mike Jones19 November 2023 07:10
Perez takes the lead! (Lap 33/50)
Wonderful from Sergio Perez!
A late break and turn into the corner sees the Red Bull sweep on the inside of Charles Leclerc’s Ferrari and he goes into the lead!
His teammate, Max Verstappen, reins in Oscar Piastri and moves up to third place. He’ll be targeting victory and won’t be bothered that his teammate is the current leader.
Mike Jones19 November 2023 07:06
Piastri is fastest! (Lap 32/50)
Could we be on the verge of of seeing a first Grand Prix victory for Oscar Piastri? The McLaren is currently the fastest car on the the track with a lap of 1:37.128 and is closing the gap on the two leaders.
Mike Jones19 November 2023 07:04
‘The tyres are cold’ (Lap 31/50)
Charles Leclerc will have his sights on a race win here but he needs to stay switched on as he leads the Granp Prix. Over the radio his voice comes through: “Ah I nearly lost it, the tyres are **** cold.”
Sergio Perez is right on his tail.
Right at the back of the pack, Lewis Hamilton continues his recovery race and moves from last up to 15th – a gain of four places. Can he get himself into the points? There’s time left to do so.
Mike Jones19 November 2023 07:02
Penalty for Russell (Lap 29/50)
The incident between Verstappen and Russell has been reviewed by the stewards resulting in a five second penalty for George Russell.
Verstappen sums it up over the radio saying: “It just seemed like he didn’t see me.”
As the race restarts proper, Oscar Piastri fancies it and nips around Pierre Gasly in a fine overtake to bring the McLaren up to third.
Mike Jones19 November 2023 07:00
Current top 10 (Lap 28/50)
1. Charles Leclerc – Ferrari
2. Sergio Perez – Red Bull
4. Oscar Piastri – McLaren
5. Max Verstappen – Red Bull
7. Lance Stroll – Aston Martin
9. George Russell – Mercedes
10. Carlos Sainz – Ferrari
Mike Jones19 November 2023 06:57
Safety car! (Lap 27/50)
After that coming together between Russell and Verstappen the track needs to be cleared and the safety car is brought out. It seems as though everyone takes the chance to pit and swtich tyres.
Sergio Perez definitely comes in as does Max Verstappen. Perez’s stop means Charles Leclerc is now up to first place again.
Mike Jones19 November 2023 06:54
Collision! (Lap 26/50)
Max Verstappen and George Russell come together and there’s some damage to both cars. Verstappen attempts to go past on the inside as Russell turns into the corner.
Debris comes flying onto the track but the Red Bull goes up to fourth.
“Mate, he just turns into me, check my tyre and front wing.” exclaims Verstappen over the radio.
Mike Jones19 November 2023 06:52
Sainz loses two places! (Lap 25/50)
Carlos Sainz has a job on his hands to defend against George Russell on the straight. He doesn’t manage it and the Mercedes nips past.
Using the slipstream of both cars, Max Verstappen spies his opportunity to get ahead of the Ferrari too and sweeps out to the left, nipping past on the inside.
Mike Jones19 November 2023 06:50
Verstappen battling (Lap 24/50)
Max Verstappen’s five second penalty has made this race very interesting. The Red Bull now has to fight through the pack and has just left Fernando Alonso behind.
His next target is the Mercedes of George Russell who is fifth, ahead of Russell are the two Ferrari’s who are currently the biggest challengers to Red Bull winning this race.
Sergio Perez continues to lead the way though and is 10 seconds in front of Lance Stroll.
Mike Jones19 November 2023 06:48
