Grand Prix of Las Vegas, Sunday, 19.11.2023
Formula 1 returns to Las Vegas after more than 40 years. Unlike in the 80s, the premier class now races on a much faster street circuit, with the fastest drivers in the world racing on the Las Vegas Strip.
The Las Vegas Grand Prix will be a major challenge for drivers and teams. Not only because the circuit is new territory for the drivers. The race will take place in the cold Nevada night. The race will start at 22:00 local time (07:00 CET).
It will be a mammoth task to get the tires into the right working window at an air temperature of around 14 degrees Celsius at the start of the race. After all, the circuit lacks the long bends to warm up the tires. Instead, there are many long straights on which the rubber cools down again and again
The drivers are not only fighting for positions and grip this weekend, but also against the manhole covers. Carlos Sainz maneuvered his Ferrari over an unscrewed manhole cover in practice. The cover came loose due to the suction effect and caused massive damage to the car.
The first practice session was therefore stopped after just eight minutes and the second session was postponed to check all the manhole covers on the 6.120-kilometer city circuit.
Not a perfect start for the Las Vegas GP, for which some hot odds are on offer. In my Formula 1 Las Vegas GP tip, I give you the best bet for the race Sunday
It could be a chaotic race. Cold temperatures on a clear night on a new strip of asphalt on a new track. What’s more, the preparations were not ideal.
After all, the long 90-minute practice session on Friday was held at a temperature of 10 degrees Celsius.
Due to the manhole cover problem, the practice sessions were combined and only started at 02:30 local time. The race start on Sunday, however, will be at 22:00 in even warmer conditions
Everything is different in Las Vegas – but the favorite remains the same: Max Verstappen is assigned a 1.30 by DAZN Bet and consorts and, like the races before, is clearly ahead. Behind him are Charles Leclerc (9.00) and Lando Norris (10.0).
However, the last night race on a street circuit was a disappointment for Red Bull. After all, the Singapore GP was the only world championship race that the Austrians were unable to win. Problems with the set-up and drivability slowed Verstappen down
But that rarely happens to Red Bull. Otherwise, they also had the fastest car on the other street circuits this year, with Red Bull triumphing in Baku, Jeddah and Monaco, among others.
However, the cold conditions and the track are new to all the teams this season, which definitely brings excitement. Most drivers will have problems getting the tires up to temperature.
One team that could benefit greatly from this is Haas. After all, the American team struggles with excessive tire wear all year round because they heat up the tires too much. In Nevada, however, this could be a big advantage
Therefore, I’m definitely looking towards points for the only German driver in the field, Nico Hülkenberg. Here Bwin beckons with 4.00 odds.
For both Haas cars in the points, our top sports betting providers for Formula 1 are offering 17.0!
Definitely not bad odds. After all, numerous retirements are always possible on a street circuit, which could flush the Haas drivers to the front. Hülkenberg loves the difficult conditions, especially in qualifying.
He has had his Danish team-mate under control in time trials this year, clearly leading the duel 14:6
Aston Martin, the racing team that was hot on the heels of Max Verstappen and Red Bull at the start of the season, has been passed over the course of the season. However, Ferrari, Mercedes and McLaren have now overtaken the British team.
Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll showed renewed strength last race in Sao Paulo. The experienced Spaniard even made it onto the podium. The dismantling of upgrades that did not bear fruit have put the team back on track.
Alonso is a specialist on the street circuits. He almost beat Verstappen in Monaco and was also close in Saudi Arabia. Another podium is not on the oddsmakers’ radar, assigning the Aston Martin driver an 11.0
The last races in Las Vegas:
But will Aston Martin fall straight back? In any case, the bet on a top 6 finish for the double world champion from 2005 and 2006 is lucrative, with odds of 2.37 for this market.
However, if you want to hedge your bets and bet on the top 10, you will only receive 1.28 odds. Interwetten’s 2.50 for both Aston Martin drivers in the top 10 is more attractive, however, and not a bad bet given the team’s upward trend and the problem child Stroll, who finished a strong fifth in Sao Paulo
Red Bull is definitely back at the front. Ferrari should also perform well in the cold conditions. Like Haas, the Scuderia has a car that heats up the tires quickly.
Verstappen’s number one chaser recently was Lando Norris, who sports betting fans should have on their radar again this time. Aston Martin could also be among the front runners again. And what about Mercedes?
Conclusion: Mercedes faltered in the last race and city circuits have definitely not been one of the German car manufacturer’s works team’s specialties this season. The cold conditions are also unlikely to play into the hands of Lewis Hamilton and George Russell as much as the other teams.
And as it is extremely close among the pursuers and the conditions and the circuit with the long straights are definitely not Mercedes territory due to the car’s high drag, I do not expect to see both Mercedes in the top 6.
That’s why my Formula 1 betting tip is: Both Mercedes in the top 6? No!
