Norris Edges Closer to Title as Verstappen Claims Las Vegas F1 Race Win

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

The British driver currently heads teammate Oscar Piastri, who ended up in fourth place after the Mercedes of George Russell, by 30 points heading to the second-to-last race in Qatar next weekend

Norris will claim the title in the Qatar as long as he does not lose more than five points to Piastri in Losail, or 17 to Verstappen

Piastri, so impressive in the first half of the championship, has not finished on the podium for six consecutive events

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

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

After Qatar, the last event of the championship follows in Abu Dhabi on 7 December

The key stories of one of Formula 1's most high-profile races included:

• Norris continued his momentum towards the title losing the win to Verstappen

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

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

• Recoveries for both Ferrari drivers, after a difficult qualifying, with Lewis Hamilton securing a single point for tenth place after beginning at the back

At the start, Norris was true to his claim that he was "not present not to take risks" as he fought hard to protect his advantage from starting first from Verstappen

But following an aggressive cut in front of Verstappen to head off the Verstappen's attack on the inside, the McLaren driver misjudged his braking zone and went too deep into the turn

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

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

George Russell undertook an early pit stop for the more durable compound, but Norris and Max Verstappen stayed out

The McLaren driver pitted five laps following the Mercedes and Verstappen 10

The Red Bull driver was able to return still in the lead, George Russell having been failed to close in on the Red Bull despite his fresher tyres

Lando Norris returned behind George Russell from his pit stop but following a several careful circuits to allow his tires to warm up, soon closed his three-point-three second gap to the Mercedes driver and swept by into runner-up position on lap 34

The British driver asked his race engineer how to manage the remainder of his race, effectively questioning whether he should accept second place or challenge for the lead

He was told to "chase down Verstappen" but it soon became clear he had little opportunity. Max Verstappen was readily able to repel Norris' attacks, and in the final laps the gap extended substantially as the McLaren car started to suffer a mechanical problem which has so far not been defined

Despite dropping nearly three seconds a circuit, Lando Norris was could hold off George Russell because of the extent of the advantage he had built while chasing Max Verstappen

The Verstappen's sixth win of the championship - only one less than both McLaren drivers - was taken in dominant fashion and maintains him in title contention, at minimum theoretically, even if he needs problems for Norris in both remaining races to pass him

"It remains a big gap, we consistently attempt to maximise all we've have," Verstappen said

"In upcoming weekends we will try to take victory in the event and by the conclusion of Abu Dhabi we will know where we finish, but I'm very proud of everyone"

Oscar Piastri started fifth but dropped two places on the first circuit following being hit by Lawson, who was soon eliminated of contention by a broken front wing

He followed Liam Lawson's teammate Isack Hadjar for the first 15 laps before passing him on the Las Vegas Strip but also position to Charles Leclerc, who he was could repass during the tire change phase

The Australian finished after the Mercedes of Kimi Antonelli, who ran nearly the entire race on hard tyres following stopping during the initial VSC, but was given a five second time penalty for a starting procedure violation, which was not clearly visible on replays

"It proved to be a disappointing race from essentially beginning to end in certain respects," Piastri informed race broadcasters

Questioned about how he would tackle the remaining events, he said: "Simply attempt to put myself in the best position I can. I obviously need several of factors to go my way now to take the title, but my only option is make myself in the best position to capitalise if circumstances change"

Charles Leclerc held on in sixth place, not close enough to benefit from Antonelli's penalty, while Carlos Sainz dropped to seventh at the flag, his Williams missing the pace to compete with the top teams in the dry conditions, after his heroic performance to start third in the wet

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

The seven-time champion executed a flying start, rising to 13th on the first lap and continued to move forwards

He got stuck in a slipstream group with a group of additional vehicles but was could employ his electric start to salvage a championship point after the poorest qualifying performance of his racing life