Norris Advances Closer to Championship as Max Verstappen Claims Las Vegas F1 Race Win

The McLaren Lando Norris stepped closer to his first championship with runner-up position in the Las Vegas Grand Prix behind Red Bull's Max Verstappen

The British driver currently heads fellow McLaren driver Oscar Piastri, who ended up in fourth place behind the Mercedes of George Russell, by thirty points heading to the second-to-last race in Qatar this coming weekend

The Briton will secure the title in the Qatar as long as he does not lose more than five points to Piastri in Losail, or seventeen to Verstappen

The Australian driver, so impressive in the first half of the season, has not finished on the podium for six races

"Verstappen had a strong performance. I erred at the beginning and was too punchy on that opening corner," said Norris

"It remains a good result to secure second place. I've got to congratulate Verstappen and his team"

Following Qatar, the last event of the season follows in Abu Dhabi on December 7th

The key stories of one of Formula 1's most high-profile races included:

• Norris continued his progress towards the title despite the win to Verstappen

• Oscar Piastri's challenging run of form continued as his championship chances diminish

• A superb win for Max Verstappen to keep him in the championship battle

• Fightbacks for both Ferrari drivers, following a difficult qualifying, with Lewis Hamilton securing a single point for tenth place after beginning at the back

From the beginning, Norris was true to his statement that he was "not present to avoid risks" as he battled aggressively to defend his lead from starting first from Verstappen

But after an forceful cut in front of the Red Bull driver to head off the Verstappen's challenge on the inner line, Norris misjudged his braking zone and ran deep into the turn

That allowed Verstappen to overtake into the first place while the British driver also second place to Russell

During two VSC periods for some early incidents, featuring at the beginning when Racing Bulls' Liam Lawson collided with Piastri, Max Verstappen gradually established dominance on the race

Russell undertook an early pit stop for the more durable compound, but Lando Norris and Verstappen stayed out

Norris stopped five laps after the Mercedes and Verstappen 10

Verstappen was could return still in the first place, Russell having been failed to close in on the Red Bull car despite his newer rubber

Norris rejoined after George Russell from his stop but after a several careful circuits to allow his tyres to settle, soon reduced his three-point-three second gap to the Mercedes driver and overtook into runner-up position on the thirty-fourth lap

The British driver inquired his race engineer how to manage the remainder of his event, essentially questioning whether he should settle for second place or challenge for the lead

He was instructed to "go and get Max" but it quickly became apparent he had no chance. Max Verstappen was easily could repel Norris' attacks, and in the final laps the margin extended substantially as the McLaren car started to suffer a mechanical problem which has thus far remained unidentified

Despite dropping almost three seconds a lap, Lando Norris was could defend against George Russell because of the extent of the advantage he had established while pursuing Verstappen

The Verstappen's sixth win of the season - just one behind both McLaren teammates - was taken in dominant fashion and keeps him in championship contention, at minimum mathematically, even if he requires issues for Norris in both remaining races to overtake him

"It's still a big gap, we always try to optimize all we've have," Verstappen stated

"In upcoming weekends we will attempt to take victory in the event and at the end of Abu Dhabi we will see where we end up, but I'm extremely pleased of the entire team"

Piastri started in fifth but lost two places on the opening lap after being clouted by Lawson, who was quickly eliminated of contention by a damaged nose section

He followed Liam Lawson's teammate Isack Hadjar for the opening fifteen circuits before overtaking him on the Strip but also out to Leclerc, who he was could overtake again during the tire change phase

The Australian finished after Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli, who ran nearly the entire race on the durable compound after pitting during the initial VSC, but was given a five second penalty for a starting procedure infringement, which was not clearly visible on video reviews

"It was a disappointing event from essentially beginning to end in certain respects," Piastri informed race broadcasters

Questioned about how he would approach the remaining events, he said: "Simply try to position myself in the best position I can. I clearly need several of factors to go my way at this stage to take the title, but my only option is make myself in the ideal situation to take advantage if something happens"

Charles Leclerc held on in sixth place, insufficiently close to gain from Antonelli's time penalty, while Sainz dropped to seventh at the flag, his Williams car lacking the pace to challenge with the leading outfits in the dry, after his impressive showing to qualify in third in the wet weather

Isack Hadjar secured eighth before Sauber's Nico Hulkenberg and Hamilton

The seven-time title winner made a strong getaway, rising to 13th on the opening circuit and continued to advance positions

He got stuck in a DRS train with a bunch of additional vehicles but was could employ his electric start to rescue a point following the poorest qualifying session of his career