Norris Moves Closer to Title as Verstappen Secures Vegas Grand Prix Win

McLaren's Lando Norris moved closer to a maiden championship with second place in the Vegas race following Red Bull's Max Verstappen

The British driver now leads fellow McLaren driver Oscar Piastri, who finished in fourth place after Mercedes' George Russell, by thirty points going into the second-to-last race in Qatar this coming weekend

The Briton will secure the championship in the desert as long as he does not lose more than five points to Piastri in Losail, or seventeen to Verstappen

Piastri, so impressive in the opening stages of the season, has not finished on the podium for six races

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

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

After Qatar, the last event 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 title losing the win to Max Verstappen

• Piastri's difficult run of form continued as his championship chances diminish

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

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

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

However after an forceful cut in front of Verstappen to block the Verstappen's challenge on the inner line, the McLaren driver miscalculated his braking point and went too deep into the corner

This enabled Max Verstappen to overtake into the first place while Norris also the runner-up spot to George Russell

Through two VSC periods for some early incidents, including at the start when the Racing Bulls Liam Lawson made contact with Oscar Piastri, Max Verstappen gradually established dominance on the race

Russell made an early pit stop for the hard tyres, but Norris and Max Verstappen remained on track

Norris stopped five circuits following the Mercedes and Verstappen 10

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

Norris returned after Russell from his pit stop but following a several careful circuits to allow his tyres to warm up, quickly closed his 3.3-second gap to the Mercedes driver and overtook into runner-up position on lap 34

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

He was told to "go and get Max" but it quickly became apparent he had no chance. Max Verstappen was readily could defend against Lando's challenges, and in the closing stages the gap extended substantially as the McLaren car began to experience a technical issue which has so far remained unidentified

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

The Verstappen's sixth win of the championship - just one behind both McLaren teammates - was taken in dominant fashion and keeps him in championship contention, at least mathematically, even if he requires problems for Lando Norris in both remaining races to overtake him

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

"In upcoming weekends we will try to win the event and by the conclusion of Abu Dhabi we will see where we end up, but I'm extremely pleased of everyone"

Piastri began in fifth but lost two positions on the opening lap following being hit by Lawson, who was soon eliminated of contention by a damaged front wing

He trailed Liam Lawson's teammate Isack Hadjar for the first 15 laps before overtaking him on the Strip but also out to Leclerc, who he was could overtake again during the tire change phase

The Australian finished behind the Mercedes of Kimi Antonelli, who competed almost the entire race on the durable compound after stopping during the first virtual safety car, but was given a five second penalty for a starting procedure violation, which was not clearly visible on video reviews

"It was a frustrating race from essentially beginning to end in certain respects," Piastri informed race broadcasters

Asked about how he would approach the remaining events, he said: "Simply attempt to put myself in the best position I can. I obviously require quite a lot of things to go my way at this stage to win, but all I can do is make myself in the best position to take advantage if something happens"

Leclerc hung on in sixth position, not close enough to gain from Antonelli's penalty, while Carlos Sainz dropped to seventh place at the finish, his Williams car missing the speed to challenge with the leading outfits in the dry, following his heroic performance to start third in the wet weather

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

The seven-time champion executed a flying start, up to thirteenth on the opening circuit and proceeded to move forwards

He became trapped in a DRS train with a bunch of other cars but was able to employ his electric start to salvage a championship point following the worst qualifying performance of his racing life