Max Verstappen sits 49-points adrift from championship leader, Lando Norris, coming into the Las Vegas Grand Prix. Should Norris outscore Verstappen by more than nine points at Vegas, then the Dutchman will be officially out of championship contention. This makes the Las Vegas Grand Prix crucial in Verstappen's championship aspirations.

Speaking on Verstappen's championship chances, Button said: "It's the track that Max needs to maximise everything. McLaren have just got to pick up as many points as they can and not lose out to Max."

Button added: "It's going to be super cold, there's also a chance of rain from what I've seen, which definitely will mix it up. It's kind of a fast track, Vegas. In the wet it would be very tricky. It's a shame to have seen Red Bull and Max drop away the last couple races, because it was a three-car fight for the championship. Now, it's definitely a lot trickier for him."

Verstappen fought back at the Brazilian Grand Prix last time out, going from the pit lane to scoring a podium finish. However, excluding a sudden dramatic performance decline for McLaren or any sort of retirement in the final three races for Norris, it appears that McLaren will have one of their drivers crowned champion this season.

Button continued: "Still possible {for Max}, if they get those run of performances since the summer break. But it does feel that McLaren have picked it up a little bit and have been actually maximising what they have, whereas I think they probably weren't before."

The Dutchman won the Las Vegas GP back in 2023, and was crowned champion at Las Vegas last season, as Norris fell out of mathematical championship contention. Will the shoe be on the other foot this season?

Despite Verstappen being crowned champion in Las Vegas last year, the four-time champion finished in fifth place, and said after qualifying: "We’re just a bit too slow, we have been struggling to get the tyres to work over a lap, and we are too slow on the straights as well, especially in qualifying."

Should Red Bull and Verstappen experience any issues again this weekend, then it could signal the official end to the Dutchman's 2025 championship. However, the Dutchman has issued a warning to McLaren ahead of this race.

With the threat of rain, and the track likely to be cold, the Las Vegas GP will be a crucial race in the outcome of this championship, as Oscar Piastri will attempt to draw closer to Lando Norris, with Max Verstappen looking to do the same and more, with the Dutchman needing a big points haul to stay in the championship hunt.

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