Oscar Piastri enters the third-last grand prix of the season further away from the drivers' championship lead than he has been all year.
Piastri's McLaren teammate, Lando Norris, holds a 24-point lead in the standings, the largest margin the British driver has held this season.
The Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix weekend begins on Friday morning (AEDT), with two practice sessions, followed by qualifying on Saturday and the grand prix on Sunday afternoon.
Here is everything you need to know about the Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix.
Norris needs a top-two finish to remain in control of drivers' championship
Norris is in control of the F1 drivers' championship with three rounds remaining in the season.
There is a maximum of 83 points to win across the final three grands prix and one sprint race.
Norris leads the championship with 390 points.
Piastri is on 366 points. Norris's 24-point lead is significant when you consider a driver receives 25 points for a grand prix win.
Red Bull's Max Verstappen is still in contention, 49 points adrift of Norris, and almost certainly needs to win every race this season, and then still have some luck, to secure a fifth drivers' championship.
As it stands, Norris does not need to win another race this season to become champion.
If Piastri won all four remaining races, he would end the year on 449 points.
If Norris finished second in all four, he would score 61 points and finish with a total of 451 points, winning the world championship by two.
Despite the advantage, Norris will still need to be on top of his game to secure his maiden world title.
He can lose the lead of the championship this weekend if Piastri were to win, and Norris were to finish 10th or lower.
However, Piastri has not finished ahead of Norris in a race since the Dutch Grand Prix at the end of August.
But a stellar weekend for the Australian and an off weekend for the Briton will drastically change the complexion of the championship battle.
Former world champion dismisses suggestions of Norris favouritism
Piastri's slump in form — which resulted in a 34-point championship lead at the end of round 15 becoming a 24-point deficit heading into round 22 — has dominated F1 discussion.
The Australian won seven of the first 15 grands prix, and was on the podium in 14 of the first 16 grands prix in 2025.
Since round 16 in Monza, when Piastri controversially gave up second place to Norris, the Australian has not been on the podium.
Including the grand prix in Monza, Piastri has not finished ahead of Norris or Verstappen in any race since.
It has led to many Australian fans wanting to know what has happened to their favourite driver, allowing conspiracies of sabotage to flourish.
Just do not mention that to Australia's last F1 world champion, Alan Jones.
The 1980 drivers' champion was asked about the rumoured favouritism McLaren had towards Norris when he joined ABC Sport's Summer Grandstand, with Jones refusing to entertain such a thought.
"It's the greatest load of nonsense of all time," Jones said.
"Every single season we come across this bullsh*t. It's either Mark Webber against Seb Vettel or somebody else … It's absolute crap.
"These teams don't spend absolute fortunes travelling halfway around the world to stymie one car or give preference to the other.
"I can assure you, both these cars are getting the same sort of treatment. I know Zak Brown very well. He's a good racer and he'd be giving both these blokes equal chances."
Speaking of Piastri's slump in form in the second half of the season, Jones said he believed it was all part of the challenges that come with being a motor racer.
"It's just the ups and downs of Formula 1," he said of Piastri's recent results.
"Formula 1 is such that, this coming weekend, [Lando] Norris could have a DNF … and Oscar could win that particular event, and end up back in the lead again."
When does the F1 Las Vegas Grand Prix begin?
In Australia, the Formula 1 Las Grand Prix will be held on Sunday, November 23.
Here is when the race will begin in each of Australia's states and territories:
- 3pm AEDT: NSW, ACT, Vic, Tas
- 2:30pm ACDT: South Australia
- 2pm AEST: Queensland
- 1:30pm ACST: Northern Territory
- 12pm AWST: Western Australia
How can I watch and follow the F1 Las Vegas Grand Prix?
Fox Sports and its streaming platform Kayo will be broadcasting the Las Vegas Grand Prix.
Those watching on Foxtel can watch the race on Fox Sports, channel 506.
You can also follow all the action with the ABC Sport live blog, from pre-race drama to the post-race synopsis.
ABC Sport will have a live blog of the Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix on Sunday, November 23, with the race beginning at 3pm AEDT.
What do I need to know about the Las Vegas Strip Circuit?
Yes. The illustration of the circuit looks like a pig lying on its back.
Despite being a street circuit, drivers will produce average speeds similar to Monza during this grand prix.
The best overtaking spot is into the chicane at turns 14 and 15, at the end of the lap's second DRS zone, which is located on a long straight, which in reality begins at turn 12.
A DRS zone, beginning at turn 4, will give a driver the opportunity to pass at the sharp right-hand corner of turn 5.
There are tight and narrow sections that must be treated with respect, or a driver's race could end prematurely.
Fast facts about the Las Vegas Strip Circuit
- First race: 2023
- Number of laps: 50
- Lap distance: 6,201km
- Race distance: 309,958km
- Fastest grand prix lap: 1:34.876 — Lando Norris (2024)
