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

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

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

Norris will win the title in the desert as long as he doesn't surrender over five points to Piastri in Losail, or seventeen to Verstappen

Piastri, so strong in the first half of the championship, has not finished on the podium for six consecutive events

"Max had a good race. I made the mistake early on and was overly aggressive on that opening corner," said Norris

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

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

The main developments of among Formula 1's most high-profile races were:

• Norris maintained his momentum towards the championship losing the win to Max Verstappen

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

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

• Fightbacks for the two Ferrari drivers, after a difficult qualifying, with Lewis Hamilton securing a single point for 10th following beginning at the rear

At the start, Lando Norris was faithful to his statement that he was "not here to avoid risks" as he fought hard to defend his lead from starting first from Max Verstappen

However following an aggressive move in front of Verstappen to head off the Verstappen's challenge on the inner line, the McLaren driver miscalculated his braking zone and went too deep into the turn

This allowed Max Verstappen to drive past into the lead while Norris also second place to George Russell

During two VSC periods for some early incidents, including at the start when the Racing Bulls Liam Lawson collided with Oscar Piastri, Verstappen gradually stamped his authority on the event

Russell made an early pit stop for the hard tyres, but Lando Norris and Max Verstappen stayed out

Norris pitted five circuits following the Mercedes driver and Max Verstappen ten laps later

The Red Bull driver was could rejoin still in the first place, George Russell having been failed to catch up on the Red Bull even with his fresher tyres

Norris returned after George Russell from his stop but after a few cautious laps to allow his tires to settle, soon reduced his three-point-three second deficit to the Mercedes driver and overtook into runner-up position on lap 34

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

He was instructed to "go and get Verstappen" but it quickly became apparent he had no chance. Verstappen was readily could defend against Norris' attacks, and in the closing stages the margin extended significantly as the McLaren started to experience a mechanical problem which has so far not been defined

Despite losing almost three seconds a circuit, Norris was could defend against George Russell because of the extent of the lead he had built while chasing Max Verstappen

The Red Bull driver's sixth victory of the championship - just one less than the two McLaren teammates - was taken in dominant fashion and keeps him in title contention, at least mathematically, although he requires issues for Lando Norris in both remaining races to pass him

"It's still a significant margin, we always try to maximise everything we've have," Max Verstappen said

"During the coming events we will attempt to win the race and by the conclusion of Abu Dhabi we will see where we finish, but I'm very proud of the entire team"

Piastri began fifth but dropped two places on the opening lap after being clouted by Liam Lawson, who was quickly eliminated of contention by a damaged front wing

He followed Lawson's team-mate Isack Hadjar for the opening fifteen circuits before overtaking him on the Las Vegas Strip but lost out to Leclerc, who he was could overtake again during the pit-stop period

Piastri ended up behind the Mercedes of Kimi Antonelli, who ran nearly the whole event on the durable compound following stopping during the first virtual safety car, but was given a five second time penalty for a start-line violation, which was not clearly visible on replays

"It proved to be a frustrating race from essentially beginning to end in some ways," Oscar Piastri told BBC Radio 5 Live

Questioned about how he would tackle the remaining events, he commented: "Simply try to position myself in the optimal situation I can. I clearly require several of factors to go my way at this stage to take the title, but my only option is ensure I'm in the best position to capitalise if something happens"

Charles Leclerc held on in sixth place, insufficiently close to gain from Kimi Antonelli's penalty, while Sainz dropped to seventh at the finish, his Williams missing the pace to compete with the top teams in the dry conditions, after his impressive performance to start third in the wet

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

The seven-time champion made a strong getaway, up to 13th on the opening circuit and proceeded to move forwards

He got stuck in a DRS train with a group of other cars but was could use his electric start to salvage a point after the poorest qualifying performance of his racing life