McLaren arrives in Las Vegas nursing a grudge. Andrea Stella calls it the team's toughest race on the calendar, and last year proved why — Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri ran second and fourth under the neon, only to get disqualified for excessive skid block wear. The papaya squad wants to "finally make peace" with The Strip, but the venue doesn't suit them. Long straights demand top speed, and McLaren's gear ratios leave them vulnerable against Ferrari and Red Bull in seventh gear. Still, Stella sounds quietly confident. The MCL40 thrived in Brazil's cold and wet, Norris dominated for his third win, and the upgrades since summer — including a new front wing — have unlocked real pace. More parts land in Vegas, pieces that preview next year's car. McLaren sits fourth, seventeen points behind Red Bull with three rounds left. Peace in Vegas means points, and points mean third.
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