The 2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix could crown Max Verstappen’s fourth world title in a thrilling season finale showdown.
The 2024 F1 season reaches its final phase with a triple-header starting this weekend in Las Vegas, followed by Qatar and Abu Dhabi, without any breaks between these three races, wrapping up a demanding 24-race calendar.
Despite the drivers’ championship being close to resolution, the end of the season remains full of stakes. We have outlined five key storylines for these final races, which promise to be highly competitive and thrilling.
The drivers’ world title could be decided as early as this weekend in Nevada’s capital, where Max Verstappen has the chance to secure his fourth world championship following his stunning victory in Brazil. We’ve also detailed the scenarios that could elevate Verstappen to the ranks of Sebastian Vettel and Alain Prost.
The Track
- Turns 1/2 – Following a fast final corner and a relatively short start/finish straight, Turns 1 and 2 are taken at low speed, with Turn 2 acting as a direct extension of Turn 1.
- Turns 3/4 – Flowing from the opening sequence, these curves, counted as two, effectively form one long bend leading into the first DRS zone, which culminates in a right-angle Turn 5.
- Turns 7-9 – After navigating around Las Vegas’ iconic Sphere, drivers face a slow chicane before a left-hairpin, which opens onto two quick corners.
- Turn 12 – This right-angle corner leads onto the famed Strip, where drivers will race past the boulevard’s legendary landmarks. Turn 13, effectively a flat-out straight, continues this stretch.
- Turns 14-16 – At the end of the Strip and the second DRS zone, the track reverts to a right-angle corner followed by two fast turns. The subsequent long straight cools the tires before Turn 14, which promises to be one of the trickiest spots on the circuit due to the high-speed approach.
The Contenders
The Las Vegas circuit, with its long straights, could play to Ferrari’s strengths, offering one of its last opportunities this season to reclaim points from McLaren in pursuit of the Constructors’ Championship title.
However, the other two races may favor McLaren, which will aim to minimize losses in Las Vegas against the Scuderia. Key factors include Red Bull’s ability to position itself between the two teams and Oscar Piastri’s performance, as the Australian has been off the pace in recent weekends.
The midfield battle promises to deliver another thrilling contest. Expect a showdown between Haas and RB F1 as they vie to overtake Alpine for sixth place. The French team may struggle compared to its stronger showing in Brazil’s wet conditions.
Las Vegas Grand Prix Schedule
The Las Vegas Grand Prix schedule aligns closely with that of Japan, with the race weekend running from Thursday evening to Saturday evening in the entertainment capital. With a nine-hour time difference to the west and a 10:00 PM local race start, qualifying and the race will air at 7:00 AM for viewers.
| Day | Date | Time (UTC) | Session |
|---|---|---|---|
| Friday | November 22, 2024 | 3:30–4:30 AM | Free Practice 1 |
| 7:00–8:00 AM | Free Practice 2 | ||
| Saturday | November 23, 2024 | 3:30–4:30 AM | Free Practice 3 |
| 7:00–8:00 AM | Qualifying | ||
| Sunday | November 24, 2024 | 7:00–9:00 AM | Race |
Previous Las Vegas Grand Prix Winners
| Year | Circuit | Winner | Team | Engine |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Las Vegas | Max Verstappen | Red Bull | Honda |
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2024 Las Vegas GP: Circuit Insights and Race Highlights 2024 Las Vegas GP: Circuit Insights and Race Highlights
