P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Max Verstappen’s title defence could officially end on Saturday night in Las Vegas?
Red Bull driver Max Verstappen has expressed doubts about his chances of winning the Las Vegas Grand Prix and staying in the title race.
Despite securing second place on the grid in wet conditions, he remains behind pole-sitter Lando Norris and risks falling 56 points behind the championship leader if the race finishes as is.
Verstappen hopes to keep his championship hopes alive by finishing close to Norris to remain in contention for the remaining points in the Qatar and Abu Dhabi races.
The Dutch driver has concerns about the performance of his RB21 car in dry conditions, stating that it did not feel good during Thursday night’s practice.
Although typically strong in wet conditions, Verstappen faced stiff competition from Norris in qualifying, making it difficult for him to challenge for pole position.
Reflecting on the qualifying session, Verstappen acknowledged that Red Bull never seemed fast enough for pole and is aiming to make necessary improvements for the race.






