Red Bull hailed for ‘very smart’ Max Verstappen call that could cost McLaren at Las Vegas Grand Prix

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Lando Norris can mathematically rule Max Verstappen out of the 2025 F1 drivers’ title fight at the Las Vegas Grand Prix, but Red Bull may have played a blinder for their star.

The 2025 F1 season rolls on in Sin City this weekend during the 22nd of the 24 rounds, with 49 points separating the top three in the drivers’ standings. Norris leads the chart ahead of the Las Vegas GP on 390 points, to pip his McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri on 366 points.

Red Bull racer Verstappen currently trails Norris by 49 points, and he can only afford to drop to a 58-point deficit after the Las Vegas GP to leave with a shot at retaining the drivers’ title. There will be a total of 58 points on offer over the Lusail Sprint, Qatar GP and Abu Dhabi GP.

Verstappen had reduced his deficit to the leader in the F1 drivers’ championship during each of the five rounds prior to the Sao Paulo GP last time out. Norris did the F1 Sprint and Grand Prix double in Brazil to gain 13 points over Verstappen, who achieved P4 and P3 respectively.

Max Verstappen’s new engine in Brazil may be game-changing at the Las Vegas Grand Prix

But Tim Coronel is “even more” convinced that Red Bull fitting a new engine in Verstappen’s car in Brazil was a blinder that could cost McLaren drivers Norris and Piastri at the Las Vegas GP. Red Bull took the opportunity to replace Verstappen’s engine as he only qualified in P16.

READ MORE: Five unforgettable Las Vegas GP moments including Sainz’s drain cover crash

Verstappen went from the pit lane to the podium in the Sao Paulo GP due to his new engine and the other set-up changes that Red Bull made. Now, Coronel is convinced that the power unit will pack enough punch to propel Verstappen to Las Vegas GP glory for the second time.

Coronel told RacingNews365: “I think they were very smart to go for the maximum, the best of the worst situation, in Brazil. And I think even more so now, because for Las Vegas you just want as much power as possible from the engine and as little downforce as possible.”

He continued: “Look, those McLarens are known for their downforce, not really straight-line speed. So, I estimate the Red Bull is actually the one that, along with Williams, always has the highest top speed.

“We should not just ignore Ferrari and Mercedes, who have also been doing well in that regard. But, no, it’s actually very easy. I’m betting all-in on Max.”

McLaren have never suited the cool Las Vegas GP conditions and high-speed track

Verstappen won the inaugural Las Vegas GP in 2023 and, as Coronel believes, he will be one of the favourites to win big in Sin City in 2025. George Russell won the 2024 Las Vegas GP in a one-two for Mercedes, which also remains 2025 Ferrari star Lewis Hamilton’s last podium.

McLaren have historically struggled in Sin City, as their car has never suited the Las Vegas Strip Circuit. The Woking squad are expected to struggle in 2025, too, given the combination of tyre issues in the cool desert at night and the aerodynamic needs for a high-speed circuit.

Verstappen left Norris in his wake to win the Italian GP around the high-speed Monza, as the Dutchman started his revival in the drivers’ championship duel. Had Red Bull fitted the same set-up that Verstappen used in Brazil for qualifying, he would have likely rivalled Norris, too.

Norris and Piastri will hope McLaren can use what they learnt in Las Vegas in 2023 and 2024 to be able to fight at or near the front during the 2025 race. Norris crashed in the 2023 Las Vegas GP as Piastri took P10, and they were over 43s from the winner in P6 and P7 in 2024.