As the Formula 1 season reaches its climax, a bold statement emerges: Max Verstappen, the reigning champion, is casting doubt on his ability to secure a victory for Red Bull in the Las Vegas Grand Prix. But here’s where it gets controversial—could this race mark the end of his title defense? With the championship on the line, every move counts, and Verstappen’s position is more precarious than ever.
The four-time world champion secured second place on the grid in the glittering Sin City, following a wet qualifying session that pushed all drivers to their limits. And this is the part most people miss—while Verstappen outqualified Oscar Piastri by three positions, he trails behind Lando Norris, who claimed pole position. If the race ends with Norris and Verstappen in their starting positions, the Dutch driver will find himself a daunting 56 points behind the championship leader.
Here’s the math: With 58 points still up for grabs in Qatar and Abu Dhabi, Verstappen could theoretically stay in contention if he finishes second behind Norris. However, if Norris outscores him by just nine points on Saturday night, Verstappen’s title defense will officially come to an end. It’s a high-stakes scenario that has fans on the edge of their seats.
Verstappen remains cautiously optimistic, expressing hope that he can challenge for significant points. Yet, he candidly admitted that the RB21 didn’t perform as expected during the dry running on Thursday night. When asked about his race prospects, he replied, “It’s hard to predict. We didn’t get much long-running practice, and what we did in FP1 wasn’t entirely satisfying. We’ve made adjustments since then, but I’m not expecting miracles. I’m just hoping we can put up a good fight.”
Wet conditions typically favor Verstappen, but even the 28-year-old couldn’t match Norris’s pace this time. While all drivers improved with each lap, Verstappen acknowledged he was never truly in contention for pole. When questioned if an extra lap could have changed the outcome, he responded, “In theory, yes. But that’s not how it works. The track dries up, and you’re supposed to get faster with each lap, but time ran out. Looking at Q3 as a whole, we were never at the top. We were never quick enough, so second place is acceptable.”
Here’s a thought-provoking question for you: Is Verstappen’s humility a sign of genuine concern, or is he playing mind games with his rivals? Let us know your take in the comments below. As the Las Vegas Grand Prix unfolds, one thing is certain—this race will be a defining moment in the 2023 Formula 1 season.