The Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix delivered a spectacular show on and off the track, with Monaco’s Charles Leclerc finishing fourth after two dramatic post-race disqualifications reshaped the final standings.
Originally, McLaren’s Lando Norris had crossed the line in second place behind Max Verstappen, with teammate Oscar Piastri finishing fourth. However, both drivers were later excluded from the final classification after their MCL39 cars were found to be in breach of FIA technical regulations. Specifically, the underfloor skid blocks on both vehicles were measured below the minimum 9mm thickness required by Article 3.5.9 of the Technical Regulations.
As a result, George Russell was promoted to second place, Kimi Antonelli moved up to third, and Charles Leclerc — who had crossed the line in sixth — rose to fourth in the official classification.
Leclerc Holds Steady in Sin City
While much of the race’s attention focused on the leaders and the chaos in the midfield, Leclerc delivered a consistent and composed performance for Ferrari. Starting on the Medium compound tyres, he was involved in early battles, including contact with Fernando Alonso that forced him wide on the opening lap.
Despite losing ground, Leclerc worked his way back through the field, overtaking Oliver Bearman, Oscar Piastri, and Isack Hadjar to climb into the top five by the midpoint of the race. A pit stop on lap 24 saw him switch to Hard tyres, rejoining just ahead of teammate Carlos Sainz.
However, tyre graining and a lack of straight-line speed hampered his chances of moving higher in the final stint, as he remained stuck behind Kimi Antonelli and Piastri.
“I didn’t leave anything on the table,” says Leclerc
Reflecting on the race, Leclerc expressed mixed feelings about the result but was satisfied with his effort behind the wheel.
“I am not satisfied finishing P6, but if I look back at my race, I didn’t leave anything on the table,” said the Monegasque before his promotion to fourth. “I had some good battles and took the right risks, so on a personal note, I am satisfied with my performance today.”
“Our straight-line speed was not the strongest, so it was difficult to fight with our competitors,” he added. “I made up for it a bit with how I was braking, but with Oscar in Kimi’s DRS, it was difficult to catch them.”
Championship Battle Heats Up
The disqualifications also had significant implications for the championship standings. Verstappen’s win now puts him level with Piastri on 366 points, while Norris remains in the lead with 390. With two Grands Prix and one Sprint race remaining in the season, 58 points are still up for grabs.
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Photo source: Scuderia Ferrari Media Centre