Verstappen battles through to win his 18th race of the season; Leclerc pips Perez for second spot
Grand Slam titles and seized back the top spot from Alcaraz and worryingly for the chasing pack he will head into 2024 looking as dominant as ever.
Ram-Salisbury reign
Earlier in the day, Rajeev Ram and Joe Salisbury retained their doubles title as they cruised to a 63, 64 victory over Marcel Granollers and Horacio Zeballos.
The U.S. pions kept
Open chamhold of their crown with a nearperfect campaign in Turin, going unbeaten in their five matches.
American Ram and Briton Salisbury took their winning streak at the seasonending tournament to 10 matches after also sweeping to last year’s title undefeated.
The results (final):
Singles: Novak Djokovic bt Jannik Sinner 6-3, 6-3.
Doubles: Rajeev Ram & Joe Salisbury bt Marcel Granollers & Horacio Zeballos 6-3, 6-4.
World champion Max Verstappen claimed the 18th win of his recordbreaking season, with victory in a thrilling Las Vegas Grand Prix on Saturday.
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc overtook Red Bull’s Sergio Perez on the last lap to grab second place ahead of the Mexican with French driver Esteban Ocon of Alpine finishing fourth.
Verstappen had been highly critical of the return of Formula One to Vegas after a 41year absence but as he drove past the finish line he celebrated with a chorus of Elvis Presley’s Viva Las Vegas on the team radio.
The grid was packed with a host of celebrities from the world of music, sport and entertainment as memories of the embarrassment of the opening practice session on Thursday being stopped early due to a loose water valve on the track, faded.
With low grip on the track there was no shortage of incident, overtaking and lead changes as the night race delivered the entertainment the American promoters had craved from the new event.
The Dutchman won by 2.070 over Leclerc but had to work for his victory in what was the latest starting race in F1 history.
Verstappen, starting second on the grid, grabbed the lead in the first turn of the opening lap but was penalised five seconds for pushing Leclerc wide.
But Ferrari’s Monegasque driver Leclerc kept in close touch and was able to get the lead back, overtaking Verstappen on lap 16.
Verstappen had to serve his penalty in the pit, leaving him plenty of work to do to regain his lead and when Leclerc went into the pits on lap 22, Perez took over at the front.
Leclerc and Perez jousted for the lead but Verstappen was ominously gaining ground and after he passed Perez he then made his decisive move on lap 37.
From then on, Verstappen never looked back, Leclerc slipping into third spot after he outbraked himself and allowed Perez to fly by.
But there was one more twist in the tale as Leclerc brilliantly moved past Perez to grab second place. Perez clinched a secondplace finish in the driver standings.
The final race of the season comes next weekend at the Abu Dhabi Grad Prix.
The results: 1. Verstappen (Red Bull) 1hr 29min 8.289sec, 2. Leclerc (Ferrari) +2.070sec, 3. Perez (Red Bull) 2.241, 4. Ocon (Alpine) 18.665, 5. Stroll (Martin) 20.067, 6. Sainz (Ferrari) 20.834, 7. Hamilton (Mercedes) 21.755, 8. Russell (Mercedes) 23.091, 9. Alonso (Aston Martin) 25.964, 10. Piastri (McLaren) 29.496, 11.
Gasly (Alpine) 34.270, 12. Albon (Williams) 43.398, 13. Magnussen (Haas) 44.825, 14. Ricciardo (AlphaTauri) 48.525, 15. Guanyu (Alfa Romeo) 50.162, 16. Sargeant (Williams) 50.882, 17. Bottas (Alfa Romeo) 1min 25.350sec. DNF: Norris (McLaren), Hulkenberg (Haas), Tsunoda (AlphaTauri)
The standings (top five): Drivers: 1. Verstappen 549 pts., 2. Perez 273, 3. Hamilton 232, 4. Sainz Jr. 200, 5. Alonso 200.
Constructors: 1. Red Bull 822 pts., 2. Mercedes 392, 3. Ferrari 388, 4. McLaren 284, 5. Aston Martin 273.