The Las Vegas Grand Prix proved to be a significant race in the Formula 1 calendar as Max Verstappen clinched the world championship.
Mercedes were surprisingly fast as the cold temperatures suited the car and George Russell took victory ahead of his teammate Lewis Hamilton.
Red Bull struggled by their lofty standards as they didn’t have an ultra-low-downforce rear wing, which hindered them at the Las Vegas Grand Prix and in Italy.
The Austrian team struggled for top speed as Red Bull deployed unique solutions to reduce drag and become more competitive on the back straight.
Tim Hauraney told the Nailing The Apex podcast that there was one team that were surprised with their drivers efforts as they had a very good result.
Ferrari were surprised Carlos Sainz finished third in Las Vegas
The two Mercedes cars were the class of the field in Sin City, which left just one spot on the podium at the end of the race.
Verstappen was running third but was passed by both Ferraris as he took little risk with the championship in sight.
Sainz, who earns £6 million a year, had an eventful race on his way to third place as he was close to getting a penalty of crossing the white line on the pit lane entry.
READ MORE: Marc Priestley thinks Ferrari lacked ‘ability’ to perform crucial role at the Las Vegas Grand Prix
Hauraney commented that Ferrari may have been surprised that Sainz was able to snatch a podium in Las Vegas ahead of his teammate Charles Leclerc.
He said: “I feel like you maybe like he didn’t like Carlos didn’t get anything handed to him. I mean Carlos had a hell of a race, man. Like he was in it.
“Some points like I think for him he didn’t even know where he was going to finish because they didn’t have the fastest car in Vegas this past weekend and for him to come away with a podium, I think they were all like really surprised.
“But again, right. Like I think, I think for, for them they have to, both of them have to work together if they want to win the constructors for sure.”
Carlos Sainz will want to impress with two races at Ferrari left
Sainz is moving to Williams for next season to partner Alex Albon after being replaced at Ferrari by seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton for 2025.
The Spaniard has put together some superb races this season, including his most recent victory at the Mexico City Grand Prix.
His new chapter at Williams will be a different experience as the British team are unlikely to be fighting for wins and podiums next season.
He has driven well alongside Leclerc but struggled at times, especially at critical moments in 2022 when Ferrari had the chance to beat Red Bull in the early ground effect era.
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