You can never count out a champion until they are officially out of it. That’s true in Formula One entering this week’s Las Vegas Grand Prix.

Red Bull’s Max Verstappen is the four-time defending champion. He hasn’t had a dominant 2025 compared with his other seasons, but he’s still in contention for the world title.

Verstappen faces a tall task heading into the third annual Las Vegas Grand Prix. He is third in the drivers standings with 341 points, 49 behind leader Lando Norris of McLaren.

Even Norris isn’t counting out Verstappen.

“He’ll be a threat; he always is,” said Norris, sitting alongside Verstappen in a postrace news conference after the Brazilian Grand Prix on Nov. 2. “He’s always there, he’s always fighting, and I’m sure he’ll fight to the end. I look forward to it.”

Versta

See Full Page