The easiest way to leave a casino with a small fortune is to enter the premises with a large one. Perhaps that's why Mercedes is actively discouraging predictions of a repeat of last year's 1-2 in the Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix, when George Russell and Lewis Hamilton not only controlled the race, but left the championship protagonists some way down the road.

It simply wouldn't be a safe bet.

"I've said let's just keep exactly the same car that we had last year, let's not change it, but unfortunately that's not the case anymore," said team boss Toto Wolff.

"So we've got to be very analytical of what is the car that we need for Las Vegas, what is the ambient [temperature], and can we replicate the kind of performances. But I doubt it.

"We just need to go there open-minded. It's

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