Max Verstappen heads into the 2025 F1 Las Vegas GP carrying both the confidence of his exceptional São Paulo drive — a charge from the pit lane to the podium — and the weight of a season that has never fully bent to his will. The Las Vegas Strip Circuit, dazzling under its neon glow, remains one of Formula 1’s most deceptive challenges: a place where spectacle masks severity. Its long, drag-sensitive straights, punishing braking zones, cold night-time conditions, and persistently low-grip surface demand extraordinary precision and discipline. Here, title hopes can flicker, revive, or disappear entirely.
For Verstappen, who trails Lando Norris by 49 points with only three races remaining, the journey to Nevada does not represent a dramatic last stand. Instead, it serves as a final — and admittedly slim — chance to keep the championship alive in theory, if not expectation. He arrives not in search of miracles, but focused on execution, consistency, and control.
Verstappen eyes strong finish in Las Vegas after São Paulo surge
Max Verstappen delivered an impressive performance at the 2025 São Paulo GP, starting from the pit lane and climbing steadily to finish third on the podium. The drive showcased his ability to manage tyre wear, navigate traffic, and maintain a consistently competitive pace despite the significant disadvantage of starting from the back. For Red Bull, the result provided valuable insights into the car’s performance under sustained pressure, offering critical data on strategy execution and areas for improvement in race management.
Asked during Wednesday’s FIA press conference whether the momentum from Brazil could carry over to Las Vegas, Verstappen acknowledged the positives from São Paulo while highlighting the challenges that lie ahead on a very different circuit.
“Well, I mean, looking back at Brazil, yeah, I guess so, because the race pace was pretty decent. Of course, I would have liked to start more up front, but at the same time, it was fun. I had a good time out there, you know, racing through the pack and fighting basically until the final lap. Of course, it was for P2, but it was still — yeah. I had good fun, and I hope that we can be competitive this weekend.”
While Brazil demonstrated the team’s resilience and Verstappen’s racecraft, the Las Vegas Strip Circuit presents an entirely different set of challenges. Its long, sweeping straights and tight, technical sections demand low-downforce efficiency and precise tyre management on a cold and unpredictable surface. If Red Bull can translate the lessons learned in São Paulo, Verstappen could turn that experience into a strong showing in Las Vegas. However, the unique characteristics of the Strip Circuit will ultimately test whether the team’s progress in traffic and strategy can withstand an entirely new environment.
A title fight reduced to mathematics
While the outcome of the 2025 F1 Las Vegas GP could have a notable impact on the Drivers’ Championship, Verstappen is fully aware that with 49 points to make up and only 83 available across the final three races, the title no longer depends solely on his own performance. For a driver accustomed to controlling his destiny, this represents a challenging scenario, yet he approaches it with pragmatism.
When asked how he intends to tackle the remaining rounds, Verstappen outlined a straightforward approach: “Same as always. Doesn’t really change. I mean, it’s a lot of points, so I’m not really thinking about it too much, because there’s also not much that I can do. We need a lot of luck now ‘til the end to even have an opportunity.”
When pressed further on whether the championship still feels attainable, Verstappen acknowledged that luck would play a significant role. Despite having claimed four consecutive titles and demonstrating his abilities on track, he remains focused not on the championship itself, but on maintaining consistency and strong performance through the remaining races.
“With a lot of luck till the end — but I’m not thinking about it. It’s a lot of points, and I just want to have a good weekend, good weekends till the end. And then, yeah, after Abu Dhabi, we close the book, have a bit of time off, and we go again next year.”
Verstappen eyes reset after challenging 2025 Season
Verstappen will be aiming for a reset in 2026. The 2025 season has been less dominant, less predictable, and more challenging for both Verstappen and Red Bull than any campaign since 2021. Mechanical issues, fluctuating performance, and missed opportunities have contributed to a championship battle that seemingly slipped away earlier than anticipated. Despite these setbacks, Verstappen maintains that his approach and mindset remain unchanged.
When asked whether the difficulties of 2025 had affected him as a driver or a person, he responded directly: “No, not at all. Just — you deal with it. You try to be better next time out as a team. And that’s what we did. I think we really stuck together, tried to make the car faster and learn from the mistakes that we made on some weekends. And, yeah, try to be more competitive.”
Verstappen content with team effort despite Red Bull falling short
Given Verstappen’s strong late-season form, some observers have speculated that he might have been the championship favourite had Red Bull unlocked this level of performance earlier. Verstappen, however, refuses to dwell on hypotheticals. He views the season not as a missed opportunity but as a natural part of Formula 1’s ebb and flow.
When asked whether he felt frustrated that the car had not been competitive enough earlier in the year, Verstappen answered calmly:
“I mean, honestly, I’m not really too stressed about it. If I knew everything in advance, I would have been a billionaire now. That’s just how life goes. If you would know things in advance or how to do things better, yeah, it makes your life a lot easier. But people always learn, make mistakes — we’re not robots. That’s just part of life. That’s why I’m not too disappointed about it. I know that my team always gave it 100% from the start of the season until now. What else can you do? I mean, we really tried everything. We’ve had some really great years, and this one is just not as good as the years before. But that happens. Formula 1 is a very competitive world. And in particular, one team this year has done a better job than us.”
There are no regrets in his assessment — only recognition that success follows cycles, rivals improve, and lessons accumulate. This pragmatic acceptance underpins Verstappen’s approach heading into Las Vegas.
Rain, low grip, and a high-risk weekend
Verstappen’s focus on consistency could be affected by the challenging weather conditions expected over the weekend. The Las Vegas Strip Circuit is demanding even in dry conditions, and rain would add an additional layer of complexity. Low temperatures can make tyre warm-up more difficult, and the circuit’s asphalt has historically provided limited grip. The potential for standing water, reduced visibility, and shortened practice sessions would further complicate preparations and race strategy.
When asked about the prospect of a wet Las Vegas, Verstappen offered a direct assessment:“If it rains, the tarmac is wet. So it’s a bit slippery. I’m not looking forward to that… I prefer to just have a dry race. It’s already hard enough to get everything working here — or understanding at least something. So yeah, I prefer a bit more straightforward. But, I mean, if the track floods, maybe less practice is also not a bad thing.”
