Norris Edges Closer to Title as Max Verstappen Takes Vegas Grand Prix Win

McLaren's Lando Norris stepped closer to a maiden world title with second place in the Las Vegas Grand Prix behind Red Bull's Max Verstappen

Norris currently heads teammate Oscar Piastri, who finished in fourth place behind Mercedes' George Russell, by thirty points heading to the second-to-last race in Qatar this coming weekend

Norris will secure the championship in the desert as long as he does not lose more than five points to Piastri in Losail, or 17 to Verstappen

Piastri, so strong in the first half of the season, has failed to finish on the top three for six consecutive events

"Max had a strong performance. I erred at the beginning and was overly aggressive on that first turn," said Norris

"It remains a good result to secure second place. I've got to praise Verstappen and Red Bull"

After Qatar, the last event of the championship follows in Abu Dhabi on 7 December

The main developments of one of Formula 1's most prestigious races were:

• Lando Norris maintained his progress towards the championship losing the win to Verstappen

• Oscar Piastri's challenging performance streak continued as his championship chances diminish

• A superb victory for Max Verstappen to keep him in the title fight

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

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

However after an forceful move in front of the Red Bull driver to block the Dutchman's challenge on the inside, Norris misjudged his braking point and ran deep into the corner

That allowed Max Verstappen to overtake into the first place while Norris also second place to George Russell

During two VSC periods for several opening-lap incidents, including at the start when the Racing Bulls Liam Lawson made contact with Oscar Piastri, Max Verstappen gradually stamped his authority on the race

George Russell made an early pit stop for the hard tyres, but Lando Norris and Verstappen remained on track

The McLaren driver pitted five laps following the Mercedes driver and Max Verstappen 10

Verstappen was could return still in the lead, George Russell having been unable to close in on the Red Bull car even with his newer rubber

Lando Norris rejoined behind George Russell from his stop but after a several careful circuits to let his tyres to settle, soon closed his 3.3-second deficit to the Mercedes driver and swept by into second place on lap 34

Norris asked his engineer how to run the remainder of his event, effectively questioning whether he should accept second or challenge for the lead

He was told to "go and get Max" but it quickly became apparent he had little opportunity. Verstappen was readily able to defend against Norris' attacks, and in the closing stages the gap increased substantially as the McLaren started to suffer a mechanical problem which has thus far not been defined

Despite dropping almost three seconds a circuit, Lando Norris was able to hold off Russell because of the size of the lead he had built while pursuing Max Verstappen

The Red Bull driver's sixth victory of the season - just one behind the two McLaren drivers - was taken in emphatic style and keeps him in title contention, at minimum theoretically, even if he needs issues for Lando Norris in both remaining races to pass him

"It remains a big gap, we consistently attempt to optimize everything we've got," Max Verstappen stated

"In upcoming weekends we will try to take victory in the event and at the end of Abu Dhabi we will know where we finish, but I'm very proud of the entire team"

Piastri started fifth but dropped two positions on the first circuit after being hit by Liam Lawson, who was soon eliminated of contention by a broken nose section

He followed Lawson's team-mate Isack Hadjar for the opening fifteen circuits before passing him on the Las Vegas Strip but also position to Charles Leclerc, who he was able to repass during the tire change phase

The Australian finished behind Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli, who competed nearly the whole event on the durable compound following stopping during the first virtual safety car, but was awarded a five-second penalty for a starting procedure infringement, which was not immediately obvious on video reviews

"It was a disappointing race from pretty much beginning to end in some ways," Piastri informed BBC Radio 5 Live

Questioned about how he would approach the final two races, he commented: "Just try to position myself in the optimal situation I can. I clearly need quite a lot of things to favor me now to win, but all I can do is ensure I'm in the best position to take advantage if circumstances change"

Leclerc hung on in sixth position, not close enough to benefit from Kimi Antonelli's penalty, while Carlos Sainz fell to seventh place at the finish, his Williams lacking the pace to compete with the top teams in the dry conditions, after his impressive showing to start third in the wet

Isack Hadjar secured eighth before the Sauber of Nico Hulkenberg and Lewis Hamilton

The seven-time title winner made a flying start, up to thirteenth on the opening circuit and continued to advance positions

He became trapped in a DRS train with a bunch of additional vehicles but was able to use his strong beginning to salvage a championship point after the worst qualifying session of his career