The Las Vegas qualy showed the talent of the 20 drivers

The rain, the walls, the speed, the cold… The conditions of the Nevada street track were extreme in the classification of the 22nd round of F1 and the racers showed why they occupy a seat.

Many times you lose track of what you are seeing. Perhaps repetition creates habit. There are 24 dates a year in which Formula 1 drivers spin at full speed on different tracks and conditions. This habit often leads to not being aware of what is really happening. Therefore, it is good not to let qualifying for the Las Vegas GP, the 22nd round of the season, pass just like that.

Icy track due to the low temperature on the urban layout of Nevada. Very low level of grip, extreme speeds that exceeded 300 km/h, deluge, low visibility, slippery asphalt, puddles… A combo that could put even the most painted in trouble. Under these conditions, the 20 drivers who make up the World Championship grid had to go out for a spin and in a little while they showed why they are there. One slip could mean a certain hit against a wall and jeopardize the rest of the weekend. However, except for Alex Albon, no one hit the wall. It was a truly sensational display of talent and management from everyone.

It is true, there is no doubt that among the twenty runners there are some who stand out above the others in terms of driving skills. QBut in the Las Vegas qualy everyone showed that they are good. The number of limit saves there were, like that of Franco Colapinto, who rescued his Alpine from an impact when he controlled it in an impossible skid. Lando Norris’s final lap, as if levitating in the water and with a save included to avoid ending up against the wall. And the signings continued, because Esteban Ocon, Oliver Bearman, Lance Stroll, Max Verstappen… Everyone had to make an effort to stay on the track.

And there were no cuts in that Q1. Because once everyone put the extreme rain tires on it was just a matter of twisting and turning. With tires that overheated and the track that changed with every turn. “I don’t think I’m going to sleep tonight with the amount of adrenaline I still have inside me. The conditions are crazy. The level of grip was very low,” said Pierre Gasly, Colapinto’s teammate, who reached Q3..

Verstappen, who does not need to present any talent credentials, noted: “It was really slippery out there. It’s already slippery when dry, but in the wet… It’s not fun. I love driving in the wet, but this was a bit much for me.” Bearman assured that the asphalt conditions were “the worst I have ever experienced in my life.” Isack Hadjar said that he had fun and that “it was the first time I was able to test myself in the rain in Formula 1, I enjoyed it very much.”

Gasly gave a fantastic definition: “It’s very impressive that no one has had an accident. It was one of the hardest sessions I experienced in Formula 1, I can compare it with the one in Brazil last year. “For me, this shows that the level of the grid is very high at the moment.”