Lando Norris Edges Closer to Championship as Max Verstappen Takes Las Vegas Grand Prix Win

McLaren's Lando Norris moved closer to his first world title with runner-up position in the Vegas race following the Red Bull of Max Verstappen

The British driver now leads fellow McLaren driver Oscar Piastri, who ended up in fourth place after the Mercedes of George Russell, by 30 points heading to the penultimate race in Qatar this coming weekend

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

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

"Verstappen had a good race. I erred at the beginning and was too punchy on that first turn," stated Norris

"It's still a positive outcome to secure second place. I've got to congratulate Verstappen and his team"

Following Qatar, the final race of the season follows in Abu Dhabi on 7 December

The main developments of one of Formula 1's most high-profile races included:

• Lando Norris continued his progress towards the championship despite the win to Max Verstappen

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

• A excellent victory for Max Verstappen to maintain him in the championship battle

• Recoveries for both Ferrari drivers, after a difficult qualifying, with Lewis Hamilton securing a single point for 10th following starting at the rear

At the start, Norris was true to his statement that he was "not present not to take risks" as he battled aggressively to protect his advantage from pole position from Max Verstappen

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

That enabled Max Verstappen to drive past into the lead while the British driver lost second place to Russell

Through two VSC periods for some early incidents, featuring at the beginning when the Racing Bulls Liam Lawson made contact with Piastri, Verstappen slowly established dominance on the race

George Russell made an early tire change for the more durable compound, but Lando Norris and Max Verstappen remained on track

Norris stopped five laps after the Mercedes and Verstappen ten laps later

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

Norris rejoined behind Russell from his stop but following a few cautious laps to allow his tyres to settle, quickly closed his three-point-three second deficit to the Mercedes and overtook into second place on the thirty-fourth lap

Norris asked his race engineer how to manage the remainder of his event, essentially questioning whether he should settle for second or attack

He was told to "chase down Verstappen" but it soon became clear he had little opportunity. Verstappen was readily able to repel Lando's challenges, and in the final laps the gap extended significantly as the McLaren started to experience a technical issue which has thus far not been defined

Even with dropping almost three seconds a circuit, Norris was could defend against George Russell because of the size of the lead he had built while chasing Max Verstappen

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

"It's still a big gap, we consistently attempt to optimize all we've got," Max Verstappen said

"During the coming events we will try to take victory in the race and at the end of Abu Dhabi we will know where we finish, but I'm extremely pleased of the entire team"

Oscar Piastri started fifth but dropped two places on the opening lap following being clouted by Liam Lawson, who was soon taken out of contention by a damaged front wing

He trailed Lawson's teammate Isack Hadjar for the opening fifteen circuits before passing him on the Strip but also out to Charles Leclerc, who he was able to overtake again during the pit-stop period

The Australian finished after the Mercedes of Kimi Antonelli, who competed nearly the entire race on the durable compound following pitting during the first virtual safety car, but was given 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," Oscar Piastri informed race broadcasters

Asked about how he would approach the remaining events, he commented: "Simply attempt to position myself in the best position I can. I obviously need several of factors to go my way at this stage to win, but all I can do is make myself in the ideal situation to capitalise if circumstances change"

Charles Leclerc hung on in sixth position, not close enough to gain from Antonelli's penalty, while Carlos Sainz fell to seventh at the flag, his Williams missing the speed to challenge with the leading outfits in the dry, following his heroic showing to start third in the wet weather

Hadjar secured eighth place ahead of the Sauber of Nico Hulkenberg and Lewis Hamilton

The seven-time champion executed a flying start, up to thirteenth on the first lap and continued to advance positions

He got stuck in a slipstream group with a group of other cars but was could use his electric start to salvage a championship point following the worst qualifying session of his racing life