The Las Vegas Grand Prix in 2023 was a night of excitement, surprises, and drama on the brightly lit iconic Strip. Charles Leclerc started on pole, thanks to a brilliant qualifying lap but the race quickly turned chaotic.

At the start, Max Verstappen made a bold move to take the lead, bumping into Leclerc at the first corner. The Dutchman took the lead after the incident but was given a five-second penalty for his aggressive overtake later on.

Meanwhile, Alonso spun on his own, while Sainz understeered into Hamilton, causing more chaos in Turn 1. The Virtual Safety Car was deployed to clear debris, prompting Perez, Bottas, and Alonso to pit for repairs.

Just a few laps later, seconds after the VSC ended, Lando Norris lost control of his McLaren and crashed heavily into the barriers in Turn 11, bringing out the actual Safety Car.

When racing resumed, Leclerc fought hard and took back the lead on Lap 16 as Verstappen struggled with his tyres. But as the cool desert night affected grip, strategy became crucial.

Verstappen came into the pits early and rejoined in eight after serving his penalty. Leclerc stayed out on track longer, which wasn’t the best strategy option as he came out behind Sergio Perez.

While Verstappen, Russell, and Sainz battled for position, the Mercedes and Red Bull overtook the Ferrari on Lap 24. Verstappen soon tried to pass Russell at Turn 14, but the two made contact, scattering debris across the track. The incident led to a five-second penalty for Russell and brought out another Safety Car, which allowed many drivers to stop for fresher tyres.

As the race neared its end, Charles Leclerc started closing up on Sergio Perez for second place. Behind them, Esteban Ocon impressed with a strong fourth-place finish, holding off Lance Stroll and Carlos Sainz. Lewis Hamilton overcame a mid-race puncture after contact with Oscar Piastri to finish in sixth.

In a thrilling final lap, Leclerc overtook Perez to grab second place, spoiling a Red Bull 1-2 finish. Verstappen crossed the line first, adding another victory to his dominant season. Perez’s third-place finish secured him second in the Drivers’ Championship, making it the first time Red Bull drivers took the top two spots in the standings.