The recent surge in Formula 1’s popularity in the United States culminated in the realization of the Las Vegas Grand Prix. The event, set against the glamorous backdrop of the Las Vegas Strip, was notably impressive for its show-like elements. However, there were also some questioning voices regarding the balance between the inherently sportive aspect of Formula 1 and its entertainment facet.
Yet, what unfolded on this historic stage was a highly advanced battle among the world’s top drivers. As a result, this Grand Prix successfully imprinted both the entertainment and pure sporting sides of Formula 1.
Let’s take a look at the Las Vegas GP, incorporating various data.
Pirelli Official Tyre Strategy for Each Driver
1. Fighting Misfortune to Claim an Impressive Second Place
In this race, had it not been for the Safety Car deployed on lap 26, Leclerc’s victory seemed almost certain. Despite this stroke of bad luck, Leclerc still managed an impressive driving, warranting special attention.
Fig.1 shows the race pace of the Red Bull drivers and Leclerc.
Initially, in the opening lap at Turn 1, Leclerc was ahead. However, Verstappen, braking later, pulled alongside on the inside, forcing Leclerc out of the track. Leclerc protested over the radio, leading to a 5-second penalty for Verstappen.
Interestingly, a video from the F1 official post-race press conference shows the two drivers reminiscing about a collision during their karting days, which was quite endearing.
Verstappen, needing to create a gap of more than 5 seconds before his pit stop, failed to extend his lead over Leclerc. Eventually, Leclerc caught up with him, as shown by their tyre degradation at the end of the stint in Fig.1.
Leclerc overtook Verstappen before his pit stop on lap 16, maintaining the pace and extending his tyre life by 5 laps longer than Verstappen. Leclerc’s superior long-run pace from FP2 was evident in the race.
Reference: FP2 Long Run Analysis
After his first pit stop, Leclerc returned to the track in P1, on tyres that were 5 laps fresher than those of Verstappen and Russell. This seemed to almost secure his victory.
However, the race dynamics changed dramatically on lap 25. A collision between Russell and Verstappen at Turn 12 scattered debris, bringing out the Safety Car. This presented a significant opportunity for Perez, who returned to the track in second place. Verstappen also pitted, switching to new hard tyres.
Leclerc and Ferrari, on the other hand, chose not to pit. Opting to defend on 5-lap older tyres seemed a sensible decision over pitting and rejoining behind Perez in second place. Despite being an overtaking-friendly circuit, facing Red Bull on equal tyres could have been less favorable than maintaining track position.
After the Safety Car restart, Perez was on the attack and overtook Leclerc on the straight on lap 32. Leclerc’s older tyres were at a disadvantage, not just due to degradation but also because of the loss and slow re-gaining of heat during and after the Safety Car period that consequently would have caused grainings.
However, the Las Vegas Strip Circuit’s unique layout allowed Leclerc to stay in the fight using tow and DRS. On lap 35, he retook the lead from Perez, and though Verstappen passed him on lap 37, Leclerc persistently pushed him for several laps, easing his defense against Perez with continuous DRS use.
A slight error by Leclerc at Turn 12 on lap 43 led to an overshoot, allowing Perez to regain second place. Nonetheless, Leclerc impressively picked up the pace and returned within DRS range by lap 46. It’s likely he switched from a defensive to an offensive mode during the preceding laps.
The climax awaited in the final lap. Entering Turn 14, Leclerc dove inside Perez’s slipstream on the back straight from Turn 12, executing a signature late braking maneuver. He then sprinted to the control line, finishing the race as runner-up behind the winner Verstappen.
2. Final Lap Drama
2.1 Was it Leclerc’s Super Move or Perez’s Misjudgment?
Focusing on the final lap battle between Leclerc and Perez, this overtake reasserted Leclerc’s strong character as a racer and his skill in converting it into success.
However, Perez’s decision-making is questionable.
On lap 35, Leclerc had already overtaken Perez in a similar fashion, with a gap of 0.794 seconds at that point. On the final lap, the gap was even smaller at 0.758 seconds. The likelihood of Leclerc not attempting a move was almost zero, indicating a misjudgment by Perez.
Yet, it’s possible Perez over-learned from his bitter experience in the previous race at Interlagos. There, his defensive line at Turn 1 on the final lap led to a slower exit, allowing Alonso to overtake at Turn 4. A top athlete would naturally reflect on such an outcome, pondering the right course of action. This could have influenced his subconscious decision-making in the current race, making his move somewhat defensible.
In contrast, drivers like Verstappen, Alonso, and Hamilton, who can quickly update such information, represent the elite. For Perez to reach the next level, addressing these aspects will be crucial.
2.2 Leclerc’s Intelligent Racing
Returning to Leclerc, his intelligence shone when he made no overtaking attempts on lap 49, likely causing Perez to lower his guard on the final lap.
Had Leclerc shown any intent to overtake on lap 49, Perez might have been more cautious on the final lap, possibly opting for a blocking line. However, by following Perez closely in sectors 1 and 2 of the final lap, reducing the gap by 0.1 seconds, Leclerc created an opportunity to overtake on the back straight.
While Leclerc missed the victory due to unlucky which is an uncontrollable factors, there’s little doubt about his abilities among stakeholders and fans. Although there’s room for improvement, such as his qualifying Q3 error and the mistake on lap 43, it’s intriguing to see how he evolves into a significant star in the coming decade.
Writer: Takumi