Verstappen rips tension out of F1 battle

Dutch racing driver and F1 pundit Tom Coronel believes Max Verstappen would prefer to wrap up his third Formula 1 Drivers' title at the inaugural Las Vegas Grand Prix with "no more tension" over the final result.

Verstappen has dominated the season so far: winning ten of 12 Grands Prix and all three Sprint events to enjoy a 125-point lead over Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez.

F1 returns to Las Vegas this year for the first time since 1982 and Coronel suggested that the city would be the ideal destination in which to celebrate a title win.

"Of course, America is a country where F1 is growing a lot, and if Verstappen could choose where to win the title, Las Vegas would be the coolest race. A great party there, right away!" Coronel told RacingNews365.

"It will happen, because Red Bull simply has the fastest car. Nobody can do anything about it. The rest can only benefit from mistakes at Red Bull.

"The championship race was already done after four, five Grands Prix. Verstappen is so far ahead that there’s no more tension."

Early victory

With Verstappen currently enjoying such a large lead in the standings, it is likely the Dutchman will wrap up the 2023 title long before F1 heads to Las Vegas for the penultimate round of the season.

Providing potential dates for Verstappen's celebration, Coronel added: "Qatar would be a nice one, or Mexico, to make the question clear: 'What were you talking about at the beginning of the season with Sergio Perez [challenging for the title]?'"