Winners and Losers from the 2025 Las Vegas Grand Prix

Max Verstappen emerged as a clear winner at the 2025 Las Vegas Grand Prix, dominating the race and further solidifying his championship contention. This came as McLaren faced a significant setback with a double disqualification for excessive plank wear, an error that could prove costly in the tightly contested season. Carlos Sainz continued his strong form, securing a valuable fifth place for Williams, while Lewis Hamilton endured another challenging race, labeling his performance as a 'nightmare.'

Why it matters:

McLaren's double disqualification not only impacted their title aspirations but also highlighted the relentless nature of F1 regulations, where even marginal infringements carry severe penalties. For Verstappen, the victory underscores his consistent dominance, while for Hamilton, it signifies the ongoing struggles that have plagued his recent seasons. These outcomes have direct implications for the constructor and driver standings as the season heads into its final crucial races.

The Details:

• Max Verstappen's Dominance: Despite his known disinterest in the Las Vegas spectacle, Verstappen showcased exceptional race craft, overcoming Lando Norris early on and maintaining a commanding lead throughout the race. His performance solidified his position in the championship hunt.
• McLaren's Costly Error: Both Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri were disqualified due to excessive plank wear on their cars. While mitigating factors like a bumpy track and limited dry practice were cited, the stewards' decision was unequivocal, emphasizing strict adherence to technical regulations.
  • This penalty effectively blew the constructors' title race wide open, bringing Verstappen closer to Piastri in the standings and giving McLaren a significant challenge to overcome in the remaining two races.
• Carlos Sainz's Resilience: Sainz continued to be a consistent performer for Williams, qualifying third and ultimately securing a fifth-place finish following McLaren's disqualifications. His efforts have been pivotal in almost guaranteeing Williams' best constructors' finish since 2017.
• Lewis Hamilton's Struggles: Hamilton's weekend was described as a 'nightmare,' with a poor qualifying position (19th) and a recovery to only 10th (at the finish). His post-race comments revealed deep frustration, as he found 'zero' positives in his performance, reflecting a challenging season for the seven-time champion.
• Andrea Kimi Antonelli's Recovery: Despite a lowly 17th-place qualification, Antonelli demonstrated strong race pace and excellent tire management, completing much of the race on a single set of hard tires. His performance in Las Vegas, similar to his defensive masterclass in Brazil, further put his rookie struggles behind him.
• Gabriel Bortoleto's Learning Curve: Bortoleto had another challenging weekend, misjudging his braking point on the opening lap and colliding with Lance Stroll. While acknowledging the low-grip conditions of a street circuit, this incident, following a bruising home debut in Interlagos, highlights the steep learning curve for rookie drivers.

What's next:

With only two races remaining in Qatar and Abu Dhabi, the championship battles are heating up. Verstappen's strong performance in Las Vegas positions him well, while McLaren will need to quickly rebound from their double disqualification to stay in contention. The pressure is on for all teams and drivers to capitalize on every opportunity as the season draws to a close, with every point proving crucial in the final standings. Hamilton will be looking for a much-needed turnaround, hoping for a more competitive showing in the next two Grand Prix events.