Formula 1 USA Grand Prix Prediction: Las Vegas is Ferrari's last chance to win

Formula 1 returns to Las Vegas for the first time since 1982 on an all-new street circuit that is unfamiliar to all teams, and is characterized by the second longest lap on the calendar with long periods of full throttle. After Las Vegas hosted the Caesars Palace Grand Prix F1 race in 1981 and 1982, this year it will return on a completely different track. With a lap length of 6,201 meters, the Las Vegas track is shorter only than Spa Francorchamps and has the longest full-throttle period of approximately 20 seconds where the second DRS zone is located. The first is located between turns 4 and 5, with the detection point at the exit of the second turn, and the detection point for the second DRS zone is on the straight. The surface is a combination of asphalt that is normally used on public roads and completely newly asphalted sections whose characteristics are unknown to everyone.

Since the peak of the season is not the fight for the championship title, solace can be found in this week's Las Vegas Grand Prix, which is of great importance for Formula 1 itself, especially from the perspective of invested money and expectations. Yes, it's been a long time since Formula 1 put so much hope and effort into an event like the Las Vegas race. In terms of marketing, there is no better stage in the world. There was a Formula 1 race here in the local hotel parking lot more than 40 years ago, and the idea to race again in the very center of the city started ten years ago. Last year the race was officially presented. It is a race that is financed by Formula 1 itself and is not the case with other promoters who pay for a place in the calendar themselves. There, Formula 1 also invested in the construction of large properties and presented one of its new headquarters. The boundaries of the organization of the race have been pushed again, but in the background of everything, it is still said that all this may not have been necessary.

Charles Leclerc took his fifth pole position of the season and continued a great weekend in Las Vegas as Carlos Sainz completed a good result for Ferrari with the second fastest qualifying time ahead of Max Verstappen in Red Bull. Leclerc was the fastest after the first attempts in Q3, and in the second attempt he drives another three tenths faster, which was enough to win the 23rd pole position of his career. Sainz also had a good second lap, but was four hundredths slower and helped Ferrari take the top two places in qualifying as he did in Mexico although he will start 12th due to a changed motor. Verstappen had a bad second lap and couldn't do better than third place, but in at the start of the race he will keep Leclerc company on the front row. Russell, the faster Mercedes driver, finished fourth ahead of Gasly at Alpine while the Williams drivers took advantage of the ideal track for them to qualify sixth and seventh - Albon maintained his 100% performance against Sargeant, but the American had an acceptably small gap of two tenths.

Both Ferrari drivers showed incredible performances during all training and qualification sessions in Las Vegas. There were many interruptions and incidents all weekend, so many of the drivers, especially Verstappen criticized the circuit and the whole event in Las Vegas. From a sports point of view, we can expect an intense race, with many overtaking and incidents. Verstappen of course is the favorite to win once again, and it will be interesting to see who will be up there on the podium with him. After everything we saw this weekend, we believe that Ferrari and Mercedes have good performances on this circuit and we will bet on Russell to finish on the podium.

OUR PREDICTION: Russel in top 3