Story By: Erin Zollars
Photos By: Sol Tucker
Las Vegas NV–
As we revisit Las Vegas this week and see the clean-up process of the race last weekend, we can see that Max Verstappen has continued his clean up in Abu Dabhi, winning yet another race. 21 of 22 races this season for Red Bull.. but what’s next in the United States for F1. Can they continue their rise of popularity with races like Miami and Las Vegas? We shall see.
With ticket sale deposits for the 2024 GP announced last week, it is clear that F1 is passed all of the negativity from the first race in Vegas and fully committed to making their 10-year deal with the city work. Guess they need to with all of the investment in a huge paddock and also a presence in the city year-round. Will the city and fans come back, or were they more interested in a one-time spectacle like having the Super Bowl there this year? Only time will tell.
What’s next for the F1 teams? Could we see some faces moving around? Is all of the talk of Lewis Hamilton getting an opportunity with Red Bull, just that, talk? One will see as they certainly have decisions to make about that second team.
Here are just a few notes from the 2023 season to look back and see how much dominance happened not just in Vegas.
• Verstappen ends the year with records for the most single-season wins (19), most consecutive race wins (10), most podium finishes (21), highest points total (575) and largest championship-winning margin (290).
• Verstappen’s 11th hat-trick weekend (win, pole position and fastest lap) ties him with Jim Clark, with only Hamilton (19) and Schumacher (22) on more.
• Verstappen today became the first driver in history to surpass 1,000 laps led in a single season.
