This weekend’s third and final US race in Las Vegas comes at an important time of the season as Lando Norris and McLaren look to keep their championship hopes alive heading into the homestretch of 2024.
The Las Vegas race makes its returns following a debut weekend last year that was filled with a lot of negative reviews and issues. However, the race did end up finishing out a chaotic weekend on a positive note.
For Norris, the weekend is truly important for the British driver as he trails Verstappen by 62 points with three races left in play for the season.
While the McLaren driver is not out of the Drivers’ Championship hunt, there is a chance that Verstappen could make a leap in the standings to put the battle out of reach.
Beyond the notable driver championship, it is also a chance for McLaren to extend their teams’ championship, with Ferrari and Red Bull still within reach of taking over the lead in the standings.
Nevertheless, there is a lot to get into heading towards this weekend’s Formula 1 race in Fabulous Vegas.
What Happens In Vegas, Stays In Vegas?
There is a lot of intrigue in year two of the Vegas Street Circuit after the mixed reviews from last year’s race weekend, as the future of the race is uncertain to some going forward.
While the race provided a spectacle for fans with the picturesque views and scenic landmarks, the weekend had its fair share of problems that raises some questions as to the city’s readiness for the second run of this race.
In terms of location, Vegas does provide a great spot in terms of marketability and revenue opportunities for the series but there were some discrepancies that led to a bit of an underwhelming 2023 showdown.
The race itself was solid but the lead up with the canceled practice due the manhole on the track and not allowing fans to watch some of the on-track practices led to some backlash, especially given the pricing.
This year, it seems like F1 has adjusted some things to make the event more accessible for the fan, but we will have to wait and see if the city of Vegas executed to its fullest.
Street circuits in general can always provide logistical challenges and track integrity can come to question especially when it is the first race such as last year but with one race under the series belt, hopefully we see the improvements for this weekend.
With a championship battle as competitive as the one we have, fans, drivers and teams should be gifted not only a sufficient street circuit, but a race that attracts fans interest as well.
Lay Out The Cards Lando
This race is crucial for Norris if he wants to have any shot at catching Verstappen in the final two races following this weekend.
It has been a sensational season for both McLaren drivers, with the team becoming one of the hottest contenders leading up to the 2025 season.
Between a emerging star in Lando and budding driver in Oscar Piastri, McLaren has the tools to become the top team within the series.
It is a testament to Zak Brown and the work that team has done which could be concluding with a Teams’ Championship here in 2024.
For Norris though, it is truly win or nothing this weekend.
With Verstappen gaining gradual ground from the last couple of races and Norris not finishing better than the defending F1 champion, Lando has to be aiming for the race win or his hopes at a Drivers’ Championship will be gone come Qatar.
It is rather far fetched given the timing we are at and what he has to do to catch and surpass Verstappen in the standings but never say never especially in a city like Vegas.
Norris ran strong last season at track and he should definitely be a contender for the weekend.
Final Thoughts
Overall, this weekend in Vegas should be quite a spectacle as we approach the season finale in Abu Dhabi.
Obviously, the drivers’ championship is something to keep an eye on but McLaren’s chase towards a teams’ title may be a big story as these battles play out this weekend.
Street circuits are challenging given the lack of spacing for passes on track which should definitely make qualifying crucial and with Norris in desperation mode to keep championship aspirations, we may see a heightened aggression from the Brit.
Hopefully, this weekend will be able to rewrite the narrative of last season’s race in Vegas, concluding with a success, positive reviews and maybe some drama in the championship hunt.