Lando Norris Moves Nearer to Championship as Max Verstappen Claims Las Vegas Grand Prix Win

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

Norris now leads fellow McLaren driver Oscar Piastri, who finished in fourth place behind the Mercedes of George Russell, by thirty points heading to the second-to-last race in Qatar next weekend

The Briton will claim the championship in the Qatar as long as he doesn't surrender over five points to Piastri in Losail, or 17 to Verstappen

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

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

"It's still a positive outcome to secure second. I've got to praise Max and his team"

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

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

• Lando Norris maintained his momentum towards the title despite 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

• Fightbacks for both Ferrari drivers, following a difficult qualifying, with Lewis Hamilton claiming a point for tenth place following beginning at the rear

From the beginning, Norris was faithful to his statement that he was "not present to avoid risks" as he fought hard to protect his lead from pole position from Max Verstappen

But following an forceful cut in front of Verstappen to block the Dutchman's challenge on the inside, Norris misjudged his braking point and went too deep into the corner

That allowed Verstappen to drive past into the lead 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 collided with Piastri, Verstappen gradually established dominance on the event

George Russell undertook an early tire change for the hard tyres, but Norris and Verstappen remained on track

Norris pitted five laps after the Mercedes driver and Verstappen ten laps later

Verstappen was could return still in the first place, George Russell having been unable to catch up on the Red Bull even with his newer rubber

Norris rejoined behind George Russell from his stop but after a few cautious laps to let his tyres to warm up, soon reduced his three-point-three second deficit to the Mercedes and swept by into second place on the thirty-fourth lap

The British driver inquired his engineer how to run the rest of his event, effectively asking whether he should settle for second or attack

He was told to "go and get Max" but it soon became clear he had no chance. Verstappen was easily able to defend against Norris' attacks, and in the final laps the margin increased significantly as the McLaren started to experience a mechanical problem which has thus far not been defined

Even with dropping almost three seconds a lap, Norris was could defend against Russell because of the size of the advantage he had built while pursuing Verstappen

The Red Bull driver's sixth win of the championship - only one behind the two McLaren drivers - was achieved in emphatic style and maintains him in championship contention, at minimum theoretically, although he needs problems for Norris in the final two events to pass him

"It remains a significant margin, we always try to maximise all we've have," Max Verstappen stated

"During the coming events we will attempt to take victory in the event and at the end of Abu Dhabi we will see where we finish, but I'm very proud of everyone"

Piastri began fifth but lost two positions on the opening lap after being clouted by Liam Lawson, who was soon taken out of contention by a damaged nose section

He followed Lawson's team-mate Isack Hadjar for the first 15 laps before passing him on the Strip but also out to Charles Leclerc, who he was could repass during the tire change phase

The Australian finished after Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli, who competed nearly the entire race on the durable compound after pitting during the first virtual safety car, but was given a five second penalty for a starting procedure violation, which was not immediately obvious on video reviews

"It proved to be a disappointing event from pretty much beginning to end in some ways," Oscar Piastri informed BBC Radio 5 Live

Asked about how he would approach the remaining events, he commented: "Simply try to put myself in the optimal situation I can. I obviously require several of things to go my way now to win, but all I can do is ensure I'm in the best position to capitalise if something happens"

Leclerc held on in sixth place, insufficiently close to gain from Kimi Antonelli's penalty, while Sainz fell to seventh place at the flag, his Williams car missing the speed to compete with the leading outfits in the dry, following his impressive showing to qualify in third in the wet

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

The seven-time title winner made a strong getaway, up to 13th on the first lap and continued to advance positions

He got stuck in a DRS train with a group of additional vehicles but was able to employ his strong beginning to salvage a championship point following the worst qualifying performance of his career