Lando Norris Advances Closer to Title as Verstappen Takes Vegas Grand Prix Win

McLaren's Lando Norris stepped nearer to a maiden championship with runner-up position in the Vegas race following the Red Bull of Max Verstappen

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

The Briton will claim the championship in the Qatar as long as he does not lose over five points to Piastri in Losail, or seventeen to Verstappen

The Australian driver, so impressive in the opening stages of the season, has failed to finish on the top three for six races

"Verstappen had a good race. I made the mistake early on and was too punchy on that opening corner," stated Norris

"It's still a positive outcome to get second place. I've got to praise Verstappen and Red Bull"

After Qatar, the final race of the championship takes place in Abu Dhabi on December 7th

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

• Norris continued his momentum towards the championship losing the victory to Max Verstappen

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

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

• Recoveries for both Ferrari drivers, after a difficult qualifying, with Lewis Hamilton claiming a single point for tenth place following starting at the back

From the beginning, Lando Norris was true to his claim that he was "not here not to take risks" as he battled aggressively to protect his advantage from starting first from Max Verstappen

But following an forceful move in front of Verstappen to block the Verstappen's attack on the inside, the McLaren driver misjudged his braking zone and went too deep into the corner

This enabled Max Verstappen to drive past into the lead while Norris also the runner-up spot to Russell

Through two virtual safety cars for some early incidents, featuring at the start when the Racing Bulls Liam Lawson made contact with Piastri, Verstappen gradually stamped his authority on the event

Russell made an early tire change for the more durable compound, but Lando Norris and Max Verstappen stayed out

Norris stopped five circuits after the Mercedes driver and Verstappen 10

The Red Bull driver was could return still in the lead, George Russell having been unable to catch up on the Red Bull car despite his fresher tyres

Norris rejoined after George Russell from his pit stop but after a several careful circuits to allow his tyres to settle, soon reduced his 3.3-second deficit to the Mercedes and overtook into second place on the thirty-fourth lap

Norris inquired his engineer how to run the remainder of his event, effectively asking whether he should settle for second place or attack

He was instructed to "go and get Verstappen" but it quickly became apparent he had little opportunity. Max Verstappen was readily could defend against Norris' attacks, and in the final laps the margin extended significantly as the McLaren began to suffer a technical issue which has so far not been defined

Even with losing almost three seconds a circuit, Norris was could defend against George Russell because of the extent of the advantage he had built while pursuing Max Verstappen

The Red Bull driver's sixth win of the championship - only one behind both McLaren drivers - was achieved in dominant fashion and maintains him in championship contention, at minimum theoretically, although he requires problems for Lando Norris in both remaining races to pass him

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

"In upcoming weekends we will attempt to take victory in the race and by the conclusion of Abu Dhabi we will know where we finish, but I'm extremely pleased of everyone"

Piastri started fifth but dropped two positions on the first circuit following being hit by Liam Lawson, who was quickly eliminated of the battle by a damaged front wing

He trailed Lawson's team-mate Isack Hadjar for the first 15 laps before overtaking him on the Las Vegas Strip but lost position to Leclerc, who he was able to overtake again during the pit-stop period

The Australian ended up behind the Mercedes of Kimi Antonelli, who competed almost the whole event on hard tyres following stopping during the first virtual safety car, but was given a five second penalty for a start-line infringement, which was not clearly visible on video reviews

"It proved to be a frustrating event from pretty much beginning to end in certain respects," Oscar Piastri told race broadcasters

Asked 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 things to go my way now to take the title, but my only option is make myself in the best position to capitalise if circumstances change"

Charles Leclerc held on in sixth position, insufficiently close to benefit from Antonelli's penalty, while Carlos Sainz fell to seventh at the flag, his Williams car lacking the pace to challenge with the top teams in the dry, following his impressive performance to start third in the wet weather

Hadjar took eighth ahead of Sauber's Nico Hulkenberg and Hamilton

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

He became trapped in a DRS train with a bunch of other cars but was able to use his electric start to salvage a point following the poorest qualifying performance of his racing life