The end of the F1 season is drawing near. This weekend, the focus will be on the Las Vegas Grand Prix as we inch closer to the final race in Abu Dhabi on November 26. There is still a lot on the line even if Max Verstappen is nearly doubling up second-place Sergio Perez in points (524-258).
Heading into this race, there are a few storylines that bear watching. We will take a closer look at the odds going into this race, what the most interesting talking points are, and the bets that you should be watching out for.
As Formula 1 heads to “Sin City” for the first time, there are also plenty of questions about the track that will be answered in this guide.
Let’s get into your official F1 Las Vegas Grand Prix preview. By the end of it, you will be ready to throw a few bucks down and win as big as the drivers on the track.
Max Verstappen to win Las Vegas GP
About the Track
The newly constructed Las Vegas Grand Prix course is one of the longest tracks in F1, running 6.1 kilometres. Only Jeddah and Spa in Belgium are bigger, even though Las Vegas has mostly flowing corners. It should equate to a fast lap creating even more excitement as the racers fly through the city. That said, the surface is expected to be bumpier in part due to the new asphalt as well as colder temperatures.
The asphalt sees normal traffic until two hours prior to the sessions. On top of that, initial reports not only indicate that conditions will be a bit chilly but there could be light rain as well. Temperatures in the 7-10 Celsius range will make it tougher on the drivers throughout the event.
Troubles have arisen with the track throughout the past couple of days, to the point where Thursday’s practices ended after just ten minutes. So that’s something to keep an eye on. Still, there is nothing quite like driving through the world-famous Vegas strip at night, the lights shining brightly. Take a digitally simulated lap with Daniel Ricciardo below.
Welcome to Las Vegas
One of the biggest storylines of the event is going to be about the track and the city itself. Formula 1 is heading not only to Las Vegas but the famed Strip for the first time ever. The process of getting the track ready has been a massive undertaking, but there is nothing quite like racing among the bright city lights at night.
The race is certainly going to be an attraction and spectacle for viewers and spectators. The iconic resorts of The Strip will be lit up and look glamorous throughout the night.
The real attraction of the event will be the kickoff. Throughout the entire weekend, there will be a litany of legends from the music world appearing alongside the drive. The action will begin officially on Thursday with practice laps before the race kicks off on Saturday night.
Lewis Hamilton to finish Top 3 in Las Vegas GP
A Historic Run for Verstappen
The talk of the F1 world this season has rightfully been Max Verstappen. It took him all of 15 races to secure his third-straight world championship, making him one of the most dominant drivers in the history of the sport.
While there is some debate that the modern F1 schedule includes more chances to win, there is no questioning how dominant Verstappen has been. He set the record for most laps led and became the first driver ever to rack up 10 wins in a row in a single season.
Verstappen also had a great season a year ago, setting the record with 454 points despite retiring from the first and third races of the season. This year, he has already shattered that mark by nearly 100 points. He still has this race and Abu Dhabi to add to that incredible total.
Verstappen had his 11-race win streak snapped with a second-place finish in Azerbaijan but has bounced back by winning two of the last three races, bringing his total up to 18 victories this season. This has been the most epic season in the history of F1 and the legendary driver only has more room to grow his legacy.
Post-Qualifying Odds
| Driver | Odds | Driver | Odds | Driver | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Max Verstappen | -225 | Lewis Hamilton | +5000 | Lando Norris | +25000 |
| Charles Leclerc | +187 | Sergio Perez | +5000 | Logan Sargeant | +25000 |
| George Russell | +2000 | Fernando Alonso | +6600 | Pierre Gasly | +25000 |
| Carlos Sainz | +3300 | Alex Albon | +10000 | Valtteri Bottas | +25000 |
Driver Battles
Despite the dominance of Verstappen at the top of the standings, there is more competition to talk about. Sergio Perez looks pretty secure in second place but a strong finish from Lewis Hamilton could at least make the potential outcome of the race in Abu Dhabi more interesting.
Even in third place, Hamilton is not safe himself. Lando Norris and Fernando Alonso have been surging of late. Alonso looked like a strong threat for second until Aston Martin faded. Norris, meanwhile, has finished second in six of his last 11 races.
While the focus of this season is rightly on the dominance of Verstappen, there are great drivers emerging behind him. A strong finish to the 2023 season could set the stage for one of them to step up and take on the unquestioned reign of Verstappen next year.
Three Bets to Consider
What are the best Las Vegas Grand Prix wagers that you can make? You could go with the safest bet out there and take Verstappen to win outright (-225), but there isn’t much value in that. So, heading into the Las Vegas Grand Prix, which bets are looking enticing? Here are three wagers that you should consider adding to your bet slip heading into this event.
Lando Norris Top 3 Finish (+2500). Norris has really found himself, particularly over the last six races. Since finishing eighth in Italy back at the beginning of September, he has ripped off four second-place finishes in his last six races (his other finishes were third and fifth). He is one of the hottest drivers on the circuit right now and has become an automatic top-three finish over his last half dozen races. A sixteenth-position result in qualifying is going to make this one a longshot, but if he maintains his form, he could slingshot himself back up to the podium for a big reward.
Lewis Hamilton Top 3 Finish (+333). It has been a rocky road over the last couple of months for Hamilton. He’s been solid over his last several races and had a second-place finish a couple of weeks ago in Mexico. That said, he didn’t finish in Qatar and was disqualified his last time in the States. When at his best, Hamilton is as good a driver as there is in F1, but he needs to overcome his inconsistency in order to get back into the top 3 in Las Vegas.
Pierre Gasly Top 6 Finish (+250). This one is a little off the beaten path, but you have to have a bit of a long shot to make things interesting. Gasly is coming off of a good showing in Brazil, where he finished in seventh. It is not out of the realm of possibility to expect a similar performance this weekend. A little confidence can do wonders for a driver, making it possible to rip off a few solid performances along the way.
