Norris Edges Closer to Title as Max Verstappen Takes Vegas Grand Prix Victory

The McLaren Lando Norris moved nearer to his first championship with runner-up position in the Vegas race behind the Red Bull of Max Verstappen

The British driver currently heads teammate Oscar Piastri, who ended up fourth behind Mercedes' George Russell, by 30 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 more than five points to Piastri in Losail, or seventeen to Verstappen

Piastri, so strong in the opening stages of the championship, has failed to finish on the top three for six races

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

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

Following 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 were:

• Lando Norris maintained his progress towards the championship despite the victory to Max Verstappen

• Oscar Piastri's challenging performance streak persisted as his championship chances wane

• A superb win for Max Verstappen to keep him in the championship battle

• Fightbacks for the two Ferrari drivers, following a tough qualifying session, with Lewis Hamilton claiming a single point for 10th after starting at the rear

At the start, Lando Norris was faithful to his statement 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 move in front of the Red Bull driver to head off the Dutchman's challenge on the inside, the McLaren driver miscalculated his braking zone and went too deep into the turn

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

Through two VSC periods for some early incidents, including 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 tire change for the more durable compound, but Lando Norris and Max Verstappen remained on track

Norris pitted five circuits following the Mercedes and Verstappen 10

Verstappen was able to rejoin still in the first place, Russell having been failed to catch up on the Red Bull even with his newer rubber

Norris returned after George Russell from his stop but after a several careful circuits to allow his tyres to settle, soon closed his three-point-three second deficit to the Mercedes driver and swept by into runner-up position on the thirty-fourth lap

The British driver asked his engineer how to run the rest of his event, essentially questioning whether he should settle for second or attack

He was told to "chase down Verstappen" but it quickly became apparent he had little opportunity. Max Verstappen was easily could repel Lando's challenges, and in the closing stages the gap extended substantially as the McLaren car started to experience a technical issue which has so far remained unidentified

Despite dropping almost three seconds a circuit, Lando Norris was could defend against George Russell because of the extent of the advantage he had established while chasing Verstappen

The Red Bull driver's sixth victory of the season - only one less than the two McLaren drivers - was taken in dominant fashion and maintains him in title contention, at minimum mathematically, even if he needs issues for Norris in the final two events to pass him

"It's still a big gap, we always try to optimize everything we've have," Verstappen stated

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

Piastri began in fifth but dropped two positions on the opening lap following being hit by Liam Lawson, who was quickly taken out of contention by a broken nose section

He followed Lawson's team-mate Isack Hadjar for the first 15 laps before overtaking him on the Las Vegas Strip but also position to Leclerc, who he was able to overtake again during the pit-stop period

Piastri ended up after Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli, who competed nearly the whole event on the durable compound 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 video reviews

"It proved to be a frustrating race from pretty much start to finish in certain respects," Oscar Piastri informed BBC Radio 5 Live

Questioned about how he would tackle the final two races, he said: "Simply try to put myself in the optimal situation I can. I clearly require several of things to favor me now to take the title, but all I can do is ensure I'm in the best position to capitalise if circumstances change"

Charles Leclerc held on in sixth place, not close enough to benefit from Antonelli's time penalty, while Carlos Sainz dropped to seventh place at the flag, his Williams missing the pace to challenge with the leading outfits in the dry, after his heroic showing to start third in the wet

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

The seven-time champion executed a flying start, up to 13th on the opening circuit and continued to move forwards

He got stuck in a slipstream group with a group of other cars but was able to use his strong beginning to salvage a championship point after the poorest qualifying session of his racing life