Verstappen may need a slipstream on Las Vegas’ long straight

Max Verstappen expects energy deployment on the long straight at the Las Vegas Grand Prix to be a major challenge. He thinks he may have to follow another car closely halfway down the straight to gain extra top speed.

“I have no idea what to expect,” Verstappen said. He described Las Vegas as so different and difficult for everyone to get to grips with. The race opens the final triple-header of the 2026 season. Verstappen hopes to secure second place in the drivers’ championship, while Red Bull is third in the constructors’ standings, 17 points ahead of McLaren.

He compared Las Vegas with Monza, where he said the slipstream can be particularly beneficial. The cold, he said, makes each car behave very differently, although some have performed exceptionally well on circuits like this in the past. In his view, Las Vegas is not normally one of Red Bull’s best circuits, and getting the tyres to work will be key.