Lando Norris Moves Closer to Championship as Max Verstappen Takes Vegas Grand Prix Victory

The McLaren Lando Norris stepped closer to his first championship with second place in the Vegas race following the Red Bull of Max Verstappen

Norris currently heads teammate Oscar Piastri, who ended up fourth behind the Mercedes of George Russell, by thirty points going into the second-to-last race in Qatar next weekend

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

Piastri, so impressive in the first half of the season, has failed to finish on the top three for six consecutive events

"Max had a strong performance. I made the mistake early on and was too punchy on that opening corner," said Norris

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

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

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

• Norris maintained his progress towards the title despite the win to Verstappen

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

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

• Recoveries for the two Ferrari drivers, following a tough qualifying, with Lewis Hamilton securing a single point for 10th after beginning at the back

From the beginning, Lando Norris was true to his claim that he was "not present to avoid risks" as he fought hard to protect his lead from starting first from Verstappen

However following an forceful cut in front of Verstappen to head off the Verstappen's challenge on the inner line, the McLaren driver miscalculated his braking point and ran deep into the turn

That enabled Max Verstappen to drive past into the first place while Norris also the runner-up spot to George Russell

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

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

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

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

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

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

He was instructed to "chase down Max" but it soon became clear he had no chance. Verstappen was readily able to defend against Lando's attacks, and in the final laps the margin increased substantially as the McLaren started to experience a mechanical problem which has thus far remained unidentified

Even with losing almost three seconds a circuit, Lando Norris was able to defend against Russell because of the extent of the lead he had established while pursuing Max Verstappen

The Red Bull driver's sixth victory of the championship - only one behind both McLaren drivers - was taken in dominant fashion and maintains him in title contention, at least theoretically, although he needs issues for Lando Norris in the final two events to pass him

"It's still a significant margin, we consistently attempt to maximise all we've have," Max Verstappen said

"During the coming events we will attempt to win the race and at the end of Abu Dhabi we will know where we end up, but I'm extremely pleased of the entire team"

Oscar Piastri began fifth but lost two places on the opening lap after being hit by Lawson, who was soon eliminated of contention by a damaged nose section

He followed Liam Lawson's team-mate Isack Hadjar for the first 15 laps before overtaking him on the Las Vegas Strip but lost out to Leclerc, who he was could repass during the pit-stop period

Piastri finished after Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli, who ran almost the entire race on hard tyres after pitting during the initial VSC, but was awarded a five second penalty for a starting procedure violation, which was not clearly visible on replays

"It proved to be a disappointing race from pretty much beginning to end in some ways," Oscar Piastri informed race broadcasters

Questioned about how he would approach the remaining events, he commented: "Simply attempt to put myself in the best position I can. I clearly require several of things to go my way now to take the title, but all I can do is ensure I'm in the best position to take advantage if something happens"

Leclerc held on in sixth position, not close enough to benefit from Kimi Antonelli's penalty, while Carlos Sainz fell to seventh at the flag, his Williams lacking the speed to compete with the top teams in the dry, after his heroic performance to qualify third in the wet weather

Hadjar took eighth place before the Sauber of Nico Hulkenberg and Hamilton

The seven-time title winner executed a flying start, rising to 13th on the opening circuit and continued to advance positions

He got stuck in a DRS train with a group of additional vehicles but was could use his strong beginning to salvage a championship point after the poorest qualifying session of his racing life