Norris Advances Closer to Title as Max Verstappen Secures Las Vegas Grand Prix Win

The McLaren Lando Norris stepped closer to a maiden world title with second place in the Las Vegas Grand Prix behind 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 thirty points going into the penultimate race in Qatar next weekend

Norris will win the championship in the Qatar as long as he doesn't surrender more than five points to Piastri in Losail, or 17 to Verstappen

The Australian driver, so strong in the first half of the season, has failed to finish on the top three for six races

"Verstappen had a strong performance. I made the mistake early on and was overly aggressive on that opening corner," said Norris

"It's still a good result to secure second place. I've got to congratulate Max and Red Bull"

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

The key stories of one of Formula 1's most prestigious races included:

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

• Piastri's difficult run of form persisted as his title hopes diminish

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

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

At the start, Norris was true to his statement that he was "not here to avoid risks" as he fought hard to defend his lead from pole position from Max Verstappen

But following an forceful cut in front of the Red Bull driver to block the Dutchman's attack on the inside, Norris miscalculated his braking point and went too deep into the turn

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

Through two VSC periods for several opening-lap incidents, including at the start when Racing Bulls' Liam Lawson made contact with Piastri, Max Verstappen gradually stamped his authority on the event

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

The McLaren driver stopped five laps following the Mercedes and Verstappen ten laps later

Verstappen was able to return still in the lead, George Russell having been unable to catch up on the Red Bull car even with his newer rubber

Norris returned behind George Russell from his pit stop but following a several careful circuits to allow his tires to settle, soon reduced his three-point-three second gap to the Mercedes driver and overtook into second place on lap 34

The British driver inquired his engineer how to manage the remainder of his event, essentially questioning whether he should settle for second place or attack

He was told to "go and get Verstappen" but it quickly became apparent he had no chance. Verstappen was easily could defend against Lando's attacks, and in the closing stages the margin increased significantly as the McLaren began to experience a mechanical problem which has thus far not been defined

Despite losing almost three seconds a circuit, Lando Norris was could hold off George Russell because of the size of the lead he had built while chasing Max Verstappen

The Red Bull driver's sixth win of the championship - only one less than both McLaren drivers - was taken in dominant fashion and keeps him in title contention, at minimum mathematically, although he needs issues for Norris in the final two events to overtake him

"It remains a big gap, we always try to maximise everything we've got," Max Verstappen stated

"In upcoming weekends we will attempt to win the race and by the conclusion of Abu Dhabi we will know where we end up, but I'm very proud of everyone"

Oscar Piastri began in fifth but dropped two places on the first circuit following being hit by Liam Lawson, who was soon taken out of contention by a broken nose section

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

The Australian finished after Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli, who competed nearly the entire race on hard tyres after pitting during the initial VSC, but was awarded a five-second 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 race broadcasters

Questioned about how he would tackle the final two races, he said: "Just try to put myself in the best position I can. I obviously 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 take advantage if circumstances change"

Charles Leclerc hung on in sixth position, insufficiently close to benefit from Antonelli's penalty, while Sainz dropped to seventh at the finish, his Williams lacking the speed to challenge with the top teams in the dry, following his impressive showing to start in third in the wet weather

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

The seven-time champion executed a strong getaway, rising to thirteenth on the opening circuit and proceeded to move forwards

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 performance of his racing life