Las Vegas Grand Prix: A Championship Sealed in Smoke

A High-Stakes Finale Under the Neon Lights

The grand finale of F1 Co-op Season 3 unfolded under the dazzling lights of Las Vegas, with the championship still hanging in the balance. Kruimel, the clear favorite, held a 15-point lead after a disastrous Mexican Grand Prix had nearly cost him everything. The Captain, his fiercest rival, needed nothing short of a miracle—victory combined with Kruimel finishing outside the top four—to snatch the title at the last moment.

Tensions within Aston Martin were at an all-time high, with a rumored rift between Kruimel and his teammate, Fernando Alonso. Meanwhile, The Captain remained openly critical of Mercedes, blaming the team for their lack of development and vision. This race would decide everything.

Qualifying: A Statement from Kruimel

The battle began in qualifying, where The Captain initially laid down the fastest lap. But in his second run, a costly steering error sent him into the barriers, damaging his suspension and forcing his mechanics into overdrive to repair the car for race day. Kruimel capitalized, delivering a stunning 1:28.470 to take pole position. The Captain secured P2 with a 1:29.305, followed closely by Hamilton, Leclerc, and Albon.

Lights Out: A Promising Start Turns to Disaster

As the lights went out, both title contenders launched well off the line. Kruimel maintained his lead, while The Captain slotted into second, unable to mount an immediate attack. Behind them, Hamilton and Leclerc battled fiercely for third, allowing the two front-runners to break away.

The Captain, knowing his only hope lay in an unexpected twist of fate, stayed patient. But fate had a cruel sense of irony.

On lap 7, a massive plume of white smoke erupted from the rear of The Captain’s Mercedes. His engine had let go spectacularly near the Sphere section of the circuit, forcing him to pull off the track. With his championship hopes literally going up in smoke, the battle was effectively over. Even if Kruimel failed to finish, the title was already secured.

A Red Flag Reshuffles the Deck

The race momentarily reignited when a major incident on lap 8 led to a red flag stoppage. As the field prepared for a standing restart, Kruimel lined up on pole once more, this time with Alonso in P2 and Leclerc in P3. Every driver had switched to the hard compound tire, eliminating any need for further pit stops.

At the restart, Kruimel got another clean getaway, while chaos erupted behind him. Hamilton, starting from P4, made a daring double overtake into Turn 1, passing both Alonso and Leclerc to claim second place. The battle for P2 intensified, allowing Kruimel to stretch his lead to nearly two seconds within half a lap.

The Solo Charge to Glory

From that point on, Kruimel faced no real challenge. He managed his pace with precision, steadily pulling away as the trio behind him—Hamilton, Alonso, and Leclerc—scrapped over the remaining podium spots. By the final laps, his lead had ballooned to over 12 seconds.

Alonso ultimately crossed the line in P2, followed by Hamilton in third. Leclerc finished fourth, marking another painful near-miss for Ferrari, who failed to secure a single podium all season. Max Verstappen, after a brilliant recovery drive from P10, finished fifth.

Kruimel Crowned: A Celebration Marred by Fractures

Despite expectations of a thrilling title showdown, the season finale turned into an exhibition of dominance for Kruimel. His victory, compounded by The Captain’s early retirement, made his third consecutive championship a certainty.

With 26 points added to his tally, Kruimel finished the season with 317 points, 41 ahead of The Captain. Aston Martin also sealed their third straight Constructors’ Championship, though celebrations within the team seemed oddly divided.

Kruimel, emotional as he stepped out of his car, was noticeably left alone by most of his Aston Martin crew. Instead, the majority of the team gravitated toward Alonso, marking their constructor’s triumph. In a surprising show of sportsmanship, The Captain—having returned to the paddock—was among the few who embraced Kruimel in celebration. Their mutual respect as competitors was evident.

The Fallout: Uncertain Futures

In the post-race interviews, Kruimel reflected on his victory:

Kruimel: “Winning this championship is an unreal feeling. I wanted to fight The Captain all the way to the end, so I feel for him with how things played out. After he retired, I just had to bring it home.”

Meanwhile, The Captain’s frustration was clear:

The Captain: “This result is unacceptable. My title hopes were slim, but when you have a chance, you have to take it. And instead, I get a blown engine. Mercedes has done nothing but give me empty promises all season. I’m done with them. If I’m racing next year, it won’t be in a car with a Mercedes badge.”

With this bombshell statement, The Captain all but confirmed his departure from Mercedes. The question now: where will he go? And with Aston Martin’s internal fractures, is Kruimel’s seat at the team as secure as it once seemed?

The curtain falls on Season 3, but the drama is far from over. The driver market is about to explode, and the stage is set for an unpredictable Season 4.