Norris Moves Nearer to Title as Verstappen Claims Vegas F1 Race Win

The McLaren Lando Norris stepped closer to a maiden world title with runner-up position in the Las Vegas Grand Prix following the Red Bull of Max Verstappen

The British driver currently heads fellow McLaren driver Oscar Piastri, who finished fourth after the Mercedes of George Russell, by thirty points heading to the second-to-last race in Qatar next weekend

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

The Australian driver, so impressive in the first half of the season, has failed to finish on the podium for six races

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

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

Following Qatar, the last event of the season takes place 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 championship losing the victory to Verstappen

• Piastri's difficult performance streak persisted as his title hopes diminish

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

• Recoveries for both Ferrari drivers, following a tough qualifying session, with Lewis Hamilton securing a single point for 10th following starting at the back

At the start, Lando Norris was true to his statement that he was "not here not to take risks" as he battled aggressively to defend his lead from pole position from Verstappen

But following an forceful move in front of Verstappen to head off the Verstappen's attack on the inside, the McLaren driver miscalculated his braking point and went too deep into the corner

This enabled Verstappen to drive past into the first place while Norris also second place to George Russell

Through two virtual safety cars for several opening-lap incidents, including at the beginning when the Racing Bulls Liam Lawson made contact with Oscar Piastri, Verstappen gradually stamped his authority on the event

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

The McLaren driver pitted five circuits after the Mercedes and Verstappen 10

The Red Bull driver was able to rejoin still in the lead, Russell having been unable to close in on the Red Bull car even with his fresher tyres

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

The British driver asked his engineer how to run the remainder of his event, effectively asking whether he should accept second or attack

He was told to "chase down Max" but it soon became clear he had little opportunity. Max Verstappen was easily could repel Lando's challenges, and in the closing stages the gap extended significantly as the McLaren began to experience a mechanical problem which has thus far remained unidentified

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

The Verstappen's sixth win of the season - only one less than both McLaren teammates - was achieved in emphatic style and keeps him in title contention, at least theoretically, although he requires problems for Lando Norris in the final two events to overtake him

"It's still a big gap, we consistently attempt to maximise everything we've have," Verstappen said

"In upcoming weekends we will attempt to win the event and at the end of Abu Dhabi we will know where we end up, but I'm very proud of the entire team"

Oscar Piastri began in fifth but dropped two places on the first circuit after being clouted by Liam Lawson, who was quickly taken out of the battle by a damaged nose section

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

Piastri finished behind the Mercedes of Kimi Antonelli, who ran nearly the whole event on the durable compound after pitting during the first virtual safety car, but was given a five-second time penalty for a starting procedure infringement, which was not immediately obvious on replays

"It was a disappointing race from pretty much start to finish in certain respects," Piastri told BBC Radio 5 Live

Asked about how he would approach the final two races, he commented: "Simply attempt to put myself in the best position I can. I obviously need quite a lot of things to favor me now to win, but all I can do is make myself in the best position to take advantage if something happens"

Charles Leclerc hung on in sixth position, insufficiently close to benefit from Antonelli's penalty, while Sainz fell to seventh at the flag, his Williams missing the pace to compete with the top teams in the dry, following his impressive showing to qualify third in the wet

Hadjar secured eighth before Sauber's Nico Hulkenberg and Lewis Hamilton

The seven-time title winner made a flying start, rising to thirteenth on the first lap and proceeded to advance positions

He got stuck in a DRS train with a group of other cars but was able to employ his strong beginning to rescue a championship point following the worst qualifying session of his career