Verstappen Baffled by Piastri's Form Slump

Max Verstappen has voiced his surprise at Oscar Piastri's significant drop in performance during the latter half of the Formula 1 season. The four-time world champion described the situation as 'very bizarre' and something he did not anticipate. Piastri, who is currently 24 points behind McLaren teammate Lando Norris in the championship standings, has struggled to secure a podium finish in his last five races. Verstappen also commented on team dynamics, suggesting he would have reacted differently to certain situations Piastri has faced with McLaren.

Drivers are also bracing for challenging conditions at the upcoming Las Vegas Grand Prix. Concerns have been raised about the potential for wet weather, which could exacerbate the already slippery nature of the street circuit. Lewis Hamilton noted the difficulty of getting tires working in cool conditions, anticipating that this would be even harder in wet weather. George Russell, the previous year's winner in Vegas, echoed these sentiments, highlighting the cold temperatures and tire warm-up issues.

Russell cautioned that the Las Vegas track's unique characteristics, including white lines and bumpy sections, could easily catch drivers out, especially in adverse conditions. While the flood predictions have eased, rain is still expected, adding another layer of unpredictability to the weekend. The drivers are preparing for a demanding race, hoping for some dry sessions to better understand the car's performance in the challenging environment.