Giedo van der Garde predicts 41-podium Max Verstappen rival to win the Las Vegas Grand Prix

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Formula 1 is preparing to return for the final leg of a gruelling season at the Las Vegas Grand Prix.

After 21 race weekends around the world, all 10 teams and 20 drivers have one more triple header to prepare for before the winter break, starting with the race in Las Vegas.

The race has particular significance for Red Bull driver Max Verstappen.

Verstappen was unstoppable during the Sao Paulo Grand Prix, and his victory in Brazil means he can win his fourth Drivers’ Championship on the streets of Sin City.

The Dutch driver currently has a 62-point lead over McLaren star Lando Norris with three Grand Prix and a Sprint Race left this year.

It means that a victory late on Saturday night would be enough to guarantee another title to add to his rapidly growing collection.

However, this season has been nowhere near as straightforward as last year, when he only missed out on winning three events throughout the campaign.

His victory in Brazil ended a run of 10 races with a win, and speaking on the F1 Nation podcast, fellow countryman and former F1 driver Giedo van der Garde doesn’t see him standing on the top step of the podium again in the Nevada desert.

McLaren and Ferrari have been much stronger this year and have leapfrogged Red Bull in the Constructors’ Championship.

Van der Garde believes one of their drivers will get the better of Verstappen, but he still believes it will be a historic weekend for the 27-year-old.

Ferrari star Charles Leclerc predicted to win the Las Vegas Grand Prix

Van der Garde was asked who he thinks will win the race in Las Vegas and simply said: “Charles Leclerc.”

Asked to elaborate after talking up McLaren’s chances earlier in the interview, the Dutch driver continued: “Yeah, they will be there.

“But, if you look at street tracks and it’s a bit like as we talked before, it’s like Baku.

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“And we know that Charles is always very strong in street tracks.

“So last year, he was performing very well. This year is going to win the race.”

Van der Garde previously predicted Verstappen to win the championship in Las Vegas and concluded: “Yep, and I think it will be a very big party on Sunday night then.”

Leclerc will have his sights set on Lando Norris and Constructors’ Championship glory

Charles Leclerc has had a very strong campaign with Ferrari this year but mathematically is no longer in the equation to win the Drivers’ Championship.

While he could match Verstappen’s current points tally if he wins every race, achieves every fastest lap and wins the Sprint Race in Qatar, he would only be level on points with the Dutchman and would lose out on countback.

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However, the Ferrari driver is within reach of Norris and one poor weekend for the Brit would make the race for 2nd much more interesting.

Leclerc doesn’t have high hopes for the race in Las Vegas, but he was exceptionally quick last year, and very unlucky not to win the Grand Prix.

Adrian Newey admitted Red Bull didn’t deserve to win in Las Vegas last year, such was the 41-podium driver’s performance when he snatched 2nd place from Sergio Perez on the last lap.

Not only that, but Ferrari have the chance to spoil McLaren’s hopes of winning their first Constructors’ Championship this century if they can overturn a 36-point deficit.

It means that even if Verstappen secures a well-deserved title in Las Vegas, there’s still plenty of fight over during the final throes of the season.