🏁 Next F1: Las Vegas GP
Date: Sunday, 23 November 2025
Track: Las Vegas Street Circuit
📍 ‘Norris wins Brazil, Antonelli stuns in P2, Verstappen charges from nowhere—title fight tightens, politics simmer, and Vegas looms: miss this, miss the plot.’
◼︎ Winner: Lando Norris won in São Paulo with a calm, controlled drive.
◼︎ P2: Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli impressed, finishing second on merit.
◼︎ P3: Max Verstappen stormed through the field to take the final podium spot.
◼︎ Piastri’s penalty: Oscar Piastri received a 10-second penalty for first-corner contact; he still salvaged good points.
◼︎ Mercedes’ strength: George Russell backed up Antonelli with a tidy P4—the team looked well-balanced all weekend.
◼︎ Midfield star: Oliver Bearman (Haas) took P6—another sign the car and driver are both progressing.
◼︎ Double points: Racing Bulls (Lawson/Hadjar) both scored; useful momentum in the tight midfield.
◼︎ Ferrari setback: A bruising Sunday undermined their push for second in the Constructors’ standings.
◼︎ Title picture: Norris extends his lead; Piastri still in touch—final races will hinge on strategy and nerves.
◼︎ Next stop: Las Vegas—very different circuit characteristics; expect a reshuffle in strengths.
◼︎ McLaren team orders: Paddock talk suggests McLaren will back whichever driver leads the championship—expect firmer calls if the gap grows.
◼︎ Ferrari review: Tyre warm-up and race-run consistency remain their boardroom priorities after Brazil.
◼︎ Red Bull focus: Straight-line speed good; temperature sensitivity still fiddly—engineers eye Vegas with cautious optimism.
◼︎ Mercedes plan: Quiet upgrades are paying off in traffic and tyre life—useful on street circuits.
◼︎ Haas uplift: Rear-end stability gains credited for Bearman’s form; sponsors taking notice.
◼︎ Williams’ approach: Qualifying trim first, then offset tyre strategy on Sundays to nick points.
◼︎ Aston/Alpine: Incremental steps, few headlines—reliability and execution now the main levers for late-season points.
◼︎ Stewarding clarity: Teams have asked for plainer wording on rejoining the track to avoid ‘penalty roulette’.
◼︎ Tyres & VSC: Everyone drilled Virtual Safety Car scenarios after recent timing swings; undercut windows remain the decisive weapon.
◼︎ 2026 jockeying: Second seats and reserve roles are the live negotiations; next-gen aero ideas already shaping contracts and simulator time.
