Red Bull started off the 2023 Formula 1 season right where they left off in 2022. Max Verstappen unleashed utter dominance in his Red Bull while Sergio Perez became a handy rear-gunner. However, a mid-season drop-off in form jeopardized their chance to finish 1-2 in the championship. This was because Lewis Hamilton kept racking up consistent points finishes in an underwhelming Mercedes. However, at the Las Vegas GP, Sergio Perez sealed his second place after a brilliant comeback drive.
A Title that was Never in Doubt
The 2023 Formula 1 season started with Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez sharing the first 4 wins for Red Bull. There were even talks of a title fight. A marker of how it’s evolved: Max Verstappen won his 18th race of the season at the Las Vegas GP.
Max Verstappen has broken, extended, and created almost every conceivable individual record in Formula 1. He has dominated the season like no one before. The Las Vegas GP was just an extension of his dominance.
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A Hard-Fought 2nd Place
Sergio Perez, on the other hand, had to battle his own demons to secure his best-ever finish in Formula 1, and Red Bull’s first-ever 1-2 in the Drivers’ Championship at the Las Vegas GP. While he suffered a slump in form, Lewis Hamilton consistently put in the performances and kept him honest.
Without his disqualification in Austin, Lewis would still have been in the hunt. However, Sergio Perez had immensely good races at both the Brazil GP and the Las Vegas GP. In both races, Red Bull made a mistake for him in qualifying.
Yet, he came back to secure good points in both those races. In the end, his 3rd place on Sunday was enough to secure his spot in Red Bull history.
Also Read: Las Vegas GP: Christian Horner slams schedule; ‘brutal for the team’
A Chuffed Christian Horner
Christian Horner was ecstatic after the Las Vegas GP. Speaking to Formula 1, he said, “It’s something as a team we’ve never achieved before. I mean what more can you ask for from your drivers than first and second in the championship?”
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