Max Verstappen was handed a five-second time penalty after he shoved Charles Leclerc off the track at the opening corner of the first lap of the Las Vegas Grand Prix.
The reigning world champion was starting from second on the grid having qualified in third place with Carlos Sainz’s ten-place grid penalty relegating him down to 12th place for the race start.
When the lights went out for the first-ever Las Vegas GP it was Verstappen who got the better start, edging closer in the second phase of the launch to prime him for an attack into turn one.
Leclerc was still ahead at the apex but Verstappen attempted an ambitious dive down the inside, missing the racing line and pushing both drivers off the track. When they emerged back within track limits it was the Dutchman who was ahead.
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