What Is The Track Record At Las Vegas GP And Who Set It?

With just three races remaining on the calendar, the Formula 1 Grand Prix 2024 season is on the knife’s edge with not an awful lot of action remaining. And yet, what’s to come will excite and pulsate in equal measure or so the fan hopes.

Little doubt then, that with Las Vegas next on the calendar, it might just be the case.

One of the fastest and newest tracks on the calendar, Las Vegas Grand Prix is the latest entrant on the F1 schedule, one that we’ve noted to be inflated with newer and more exciting options than before. For sure, on the one hand Drive To Survive has done a world of good for the new generation of F1 fans to fill their palette with something enticing, such as the fastest form of single-seater Motor Racing but on the other hand, there’s newer venues the FIA have actively looked for-and executed- that have further enhanced the envelope of the most exciting contest in the world of Motor racing.

With that being said, what is also essential is to recollect that Las Vegas Grand Prix is pretty much a newborn in the F1 world. So much so that with just one race against its name, its best days, it could be argued, lie in the future. But let’s talk about the imminent future of the Las Vegas Grand Prix.

This is the 22nd race of the current FIA F1 World championship season. The battle lines are drawn. Not an awful lot separates the two frontrunners there in the front of Max Verstappen and Lando Norris; the Red Bull driver out in the lead of the McLaren man by no fewer than 62 points. Surely, it’s the margin of over two race wins (2 wins and 12 points) but then, a little fault or mishap here and there and Red Bull’s Mad Max could well see a possible fourth title out of his grasp.

Having said that, after sustaining an ordinary run at the rain-soaked Interlagos, the home of the São Paulo-bound Brazilian Grand Prix, Lando Norris can afford no downslides; he will have to come out on top at Vegas. But then there could be the two dazzling drivers from the Ferrari contingent that could intervene and play spoil sport.

How about that?

Just makes sense to recollect as to which driver had set the fastest lap time at the Las Vegas Grand Prix and what was that time, even as we all know only one Grand Prix has taken place at the “sin city”.

Truth be told- and this ain’t no random speak-there is a connection between the driver who set the fastest lap time and the person who is really going for the world title, even as there is a gap to be filled in the lead (to the driver’s standings of the 2024 season.)

Who holds the lap record at the Las Vegas Grand Prix?

While Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc drove an excellent race last year, marked by the tumultuous event of him being first passed by Checo Perez in the dying moments of the 50-lap contest, only for the Monegasque to bounce back, it was McLaren’s Oscar Piastri who ruled the speed charts. That’s when neither the McLaren driver nor the Ferrari driver stood on the top step of the podium at Las Vegas.

Max Verstappen, let’s refresh our memory, claimed the inaugural Las Vegas Grand Prix in emphatic fashion, attacking and overtaking with usual gusto. He was clearly the class of the field under bright and flashing lights. Drivers like Alonso suffered from a lack of grip and Sainz, who during qualifying actually ran over an empty man hole cover, suffered big time thanks to the FIA awarded him a humungous grid penalty.

The Aston Martins and Ferraris didn’t shine with glee where it came to the 2023 Las Vegas Grand Prix. Having said that, McLaren’s youngest driver in the past many years, Oscar Piastri delivered an excellent moment at Nevada. At the 3.85 mile long track, it was the daring Australian, fast becoming a fan favourite, who blocked a belter of a lap time going really fast at 1:35:490. This, deservingly earned him the man behind the “fastest lap of the race” award.

But having said that, while two Red Bulls led by Verstappen on top and a Ferrari reigned supreme last year, who will dominate the forthcoming Las Vegas Grand Prix?