Alice Powell shocked 29-year-old driver didn’t put up more of a fight against Max Verstappen

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Pundit and racing driver Alice Powell admitted she was very surprised that Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz didn’t put up more of a fight against Max Verstappen.

Powell was covering the race for BBC Sport as the Dutchman claimed his 18^th victory of the season.

Verstappen’s success is simply unprecedented and only two drivers have managed to prevent him from winning every Grand Prix this year.

His teammate Sergio Perez looked like an early threat in 2023 when he won two of the first four races.

However, he hasn’t stood on the top step of the podium since and it has raised questions about his future.

The other man to win a Grand Prix was Carlos Sainz who secured a fantastic victory in Singapore.

The Spaniard looked very quick this weekend and was unfortunate to pick up a ten-place grid penalty after qualifying second due to damage caused to his car by the track.

Sainz had the opportunity to protect his teammate Charles Leclerc as Verstappen charged through the pack following his first pit stop.

However, Powell has suggested that Sainz maybe should have done more to help his teammate try and finally convert a pole position into a race win in Las Vegas.

Although he was on older tyres, he and Leclerc had very good race pace today.

He secured a decent finish in the end, but it might be a case of what could have been for his teammate who ended up just a few seconds behind Verstappen at the end of the race.

Powell surprised by Sainz’s defending in Las Vegas

Speaking about the overtake midway through the Grand Prix, Powell said: “I’m surprised Sainz didn’t try and put up a better fight there against Max Verstappen because he sort of let him breeze through.”

Before the Grand Prix weekend, Ferrari had high expectations with the circuit likely to suit them due to the high speeds.

Not pitting Leclerc during the second safety car was the key error while Sainz was fighting a losing battle after starting in the middle of the pack and picking up damage going into the first corner.

The Spaniard is now level on points with fellow countryman Fernando Alonso and has jumped ahead of Lando Norris following his big crash.

It will all come down to Abu Dhabi to see who finishes fourth in the Drivers’ Championship, a circuit now synonymous with dramatic finishes.