Max Verstappen is now a four-time world champion. In 2021, 2022, 2023 and now 2024, the Flying Dutchman has reached a level of stardom alongside Sebastian Vettel and Juan Manual Fangio. After finishing fifth in Las Vegas, Verstappen played the safe option, which awarded him a fourth consecutive title.
But playing safe in these crucial stages of the Formula 1 2024 season is not a driving style to cultivate. With two rounds, F1 still has a maximum of 64 points left with two races to go—one Sprint and one traditional weekend. While the Driver’s Championship has been clinched for Red Bull, the Constructors Championship will be a lot harder to grasp.
29 Points Behind Ferrari, 53 Behind McLaren
After the Las Vegas Grand Prix, Red Bull lost to McLaren by four points and Ferrari by a staggering 16 points. While these facts are not discussed currently, the main focus will centre around Verstappen’s 2024 championship victory.
But after the adrenaline and the festivities come to a close within Vegas, Red Bull will soon understand the mountain they will have to climb when they arrive in Qatar a week after the Las Vegas Grand Prix. However, for the Milton Keynes-based team to make Ferrari and McLaren’s ambition to claim another Constructors Championship, Verstappen cannot charge at his rivals alone.
Sergio Needs to Prove Why He Is A Red Bull Driver
Since Formula 1 returned from the summer break, Sergio Perez has only scored 21 points compared to his newly crowned, four-time world champion team-mate, who has accumulated 126. These 147 points have not been enough to hold back McLaren and Ferrari, whose drivers have been working together to dethrone the Raging Bulls from the top step in the Constructors.
With Las Vegas concluded, Max scored 10 points, with Sergio managing to get into the Top 10, only scoring one point. But this performance from ‘Checo’ is not enough for Red Bull to seal the double crown for 2024. Leaving Las Vegas as the team with the fewest points scored, Red Bull cannot repeat this performance.
Or the ‘three-horse race’ between McLaren, Ferrari, and Red Bull will become a duel between the newly found challengers, McLaren and Ferrari.
53 Points Behind, With 64 Points Left
With 53 Points behind, the near equivalent of two race wins combined with two fastest laps points, remain 64 points left. So, with two race weekends left, what is in store as we head into the second third of the triple-header?
Our next stop is travelling East to the Lusail International Circuit in Qatar. But like last season’s format, the Qatar Grand Prix weekend will feature the final Sprint weekend. So, not just 26 points up for grabs, but 34. A haul of points that Red Bull will be looking to steal to keep their championship aspirations alive.
But if the championship is to be decided in the finale in Abu Dhabi, the only way for the Milton Keynes team to remain in the hunt is for Red Bull to outscore McLaren by 28 points in Qatar, leaving the gap at 25 points.
Next Stop… Qatar!
28… 28 Points is the number by which Red Bull will need to outscore the Woking team. However, as McLaren did finish in Las Vegas, their sights will be set on the same mentality as Max did in Nevada, which we will see in Qatar. This is to ensure McLaren does not take any unnecessary risks to achieve success.
However, Red Bull needs to maximise the team effort with both drivers. If not, then they are out of the constructor’s fight. Worse still, Sergio Perez may lose his seat at the end of the season. His performance has become the main factor of Red Bull’s downfall to retain the lead in the Championship.
So get ready for a jam-packed weekend as Formula 1 returns to Qatar.
If you would like to learn more news about the world of Formula 1? Then why not check out “Las Vegas Grand Prix: Formula 1’s Royal Flush!” or “The Ultimate Vegas Showdown: Who’s Ready to Risk It All?”
