Verstappen on Vegas: 'Monaco is Champions League, this is National League'

Monaco, Jeddah, Baku and now Las Vegas! Street circuits are known for three things: they are fast, tight and often they're spectacular. But that's for the viewers at home, how do the drivers experience a street circuit?

During the post-qualification press conference, the drivers are asked about the feeling during a qualifying lap compared to other street circuits. Charles Leclerc starts with his Monaco: "It's a bit of a different feeling than Monaco, Monaco is so intense. You've got no time to think, it's just from one corner to the other.'' But the difference with Vegas is definitely there: "You've got ways out, and the grip is so low. Even if you get out of the line, it's not that you're losing a lot of grip." Whether Leclerc also has a favourite bit on the track? Definitely: "Turns 7, 8 and 9 feel really, really good. And i actually enjoy this section where you can ride on curves and also position your wheel in a clever way.''

Verstappen is not a fan of Las Vegas

"It's similar in a way to Baku," says Carlos Sainz, "very long straights, high breaking scenarios where you really have to push yourself to brake ten metres later." The Spaniard also finds the circuit very different from Monaco: ''In Monaco it's more about the flow. There you really try to almost get into the wall while approaching the apex. But apart from turn three, there's not any real wall that you can get very close to on the apex and hug it like you do in Monaco."

Max Verstappen is very straight to the point: "I think Monaco is like Champions League, this is national league."