As fans trudged away from their expensively purchased seats on night one of 2023 Las Vegas Grand Prixhaving seen just eight minutes of cars on the track before “well gate”a question arose: how could the sport recover for this?

But beyond all the fanfare that inevitably accompanied Formula 1’s lavish return to Sin City last year, what actually saved the opening event was Saturday night’s race itself. We had overtakes – 82 in fact, the most of any track in its debut Grand Prix – we had safety cars and we had last-lap drama. For a sport that veers all too obviously in the direction of spectacle at times, it was a refreshing nod to the drama that on-court action can deliver.

Norris saw his title hopes crumble at the last race in Brazil as Verstappen produced one of his best ever drives to take victory from 17th on the grid in wet conditions.

With 62 points separating the pair with three races remaining, Red Bull’s Verstappen will win his fourth straight F1 title if he finishes ahead of McLaren’s Norris at this weekend’s Las Vegas Grand Prix.

“We have to try to find something to try to turn the situation around, but we’re not that far (away),” Leclerc said.

“All in all, I think we’re very strong in race pace, a little less so in qualifying. It’s been a bit of a story of our season but it’s better that way than the other way around.

“I think we have some ideas of what to do to try and improve it, but then it’s a trade-off of how good you want to be in the race compared to qualifying and we have to find the right compromise.”

Formula 1 is reportedly in talks with General Motors about an eleventh team joining the grid in 2026.

Yet Sky Sports News understands that, with former boss Michael Andretti out of the picture, a GM entry led by businessman Dan Towriss – the majority owner of Andretti Global – is being considered to enter the sport as early as 2026.

“I think we are the dirty track champions. FP1 is always good and the moment the grip kicks in we have seen the performance deteriorate.

“Having said that, I think the gap was pretty big. It’s the biggest we’ve seen so far in FP1, so we’ve got to spray some dust for all the sessions tomorrow, in qualifying or something.

“But I don’t think this kind of advantage for the other teams will last. I really hope we don’t fall behind like we did in the past on some of the tracks, but stay competitive, fight at the front.”

“It was slippery. We really struggled with connecting the tires, especially during one lap. In the long run we were a bit more competitive, but we still need to fine tune.”

The championship leader added: “We’re a long way off the lap pace because of the unique conditions here, but it’s the same for everyone. We have to learn what we’re doing wrong. It’s like driving on ice.”

Michael Buffer and his brother Bruce will join forces to present the Formula 1 stars ahead of Saturday’s celebrity-studded Las Vegas Grand Prix.

Michael, known for his ‘Let’s Get Ready to Rumble’ catchphrase, was hired by F1 bosses ahead of the 2017 US Grand Prix in Austin.

Known for yelling “It’s Time,” Bruce announced to grid drivers before last year’s event on the Strip.

“We are here and if there are points to be taken we are here to do it. We come here to still fight for our opponents.”

On the team’s determination to get two cars out on track: “It’s just Williams. We can see the path of where we were and where we’re going at the moment.”