Max Verstappen of Red Bull Racing emerged victorious at the Las Vegas Grand Prix, marking his 18th win of the Formula 1 2023 season. The race, which was the third F1 event in the U.S. this season, drew over 315,000 spectators and is estimated to have had an economic impact of $1.2 billion on Las Vegas.
Despite a five-second penalty for forcing Ferrari's Charles Leclerc off track at the start and a collision with Mercedes' George Russell, Verstappen managed to secure the win. This victory also marked Red Bull's 20th win in 21 races, a record for a single season. Verstappen also completed a sweep of three U.S. wins in 2023, having previously won in Miami and Austin.
The lead of the race changed hands multiple times with Charles Leclerc, Verstappen, and Sergio Perez all in contention. Leclerc finished second, denying Red Bull a seventh one-two of the season. Other notable placements include Esteban Ocon from BWT Alpine F1 Team in fourth place, and Lewis Hamilton from Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team in seventh place. The race saw three drivers, Yuki Tsunoda, Nico Hulkenberg, and Lando Norris, not finishing. British driver Lando Norris was taken to hospital for precautionary checks after he crashed out on the third lap at 180mph.
Despite some logistical issues, including a lawsuit filed against the Las Vegas Grand Prix, the race was deemed a success and praised for its competitiveness. The race was marked by several overtakes and a safety car intervention due to debris on the track. The final race of the season will take place at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi.