Christian Horner commended Sergio Perez’s outstanding performance in the Las Vegas Grand Prix as the Mexican driver, starting from 11th on the grid, clinched a podium finish. This achievement secured Perez the second position in the drivers’ championship, marking the first instance of both Red Bull drivers securing the top two spots in the standings.
Going into the race with a 32-point lead over Lewis Hamilton, Perez needed to prevent Hamilton from outscoring him by six points to settle the championship battle before the final race in Abu Dhabi.
Perez’s impressive drive to third place, coupled with Hamilton finishing in seventh, established an insurmountable 41-point lead for Perez, securing a career-best second place in the championship with one race remaining.
While Red Bull has already notched six constructors’ titles and seven drivers’ championships, achieving a one-two finish in the standings has eluded them throughout their 18-year history.
With Perez’s podium finish and Max Verstappen already crowned the 2023 champion, this historic milestone was finally realized in Las Vegas. Team principal Christian Horner expressed his satisfaction, highlighting the unprecedented achievement of having both drivers atop the championship standings.
Las Vegas witnessed Formula 1 history as Max Verstappen, the reigning world champion, stole the spotlight by triumphing in the inaugural Grand Prix on the iconic Strip.
Verstappen added flair to the celebration by serenading the crowd with Elvis Presley’s ‘Viva Las Vegas’ after a remarkable performance, overcoming a five-second penalty that briefly dropped him to fifth.
This victory marked Verstappen’s third triumph in the United States this season, solidifying his dominance with 18 wins in the year, including 16 out of the last 17 races. His unparalleled success continues to define an extraordinary season for the three-time world champion.
Verstappen’s misjudgment led to contact, reminiscent of his controversial maneuvers with Lewis Hamilton in 2021. Despite protesting his innocence, Verstappen acknowledged the penalty’s validity.
Red Bull opted not to relinquish the gained position, with Verstappen serving the penalty during his pit stop from second place. Struggling with tires, he couldn’t escape Leclerc, who eventually overtook him on lap 16. Meanwhile, Sergio Perez, recovering from a first-corner incident and benefiting from a strategic safety car decision, climbed the ranks to contend for victory alongside Leclerc.
