Norris Edges Closer to Title as Verstappen Secures Las Vegas Grand Prix Victory

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

The British driver now leads teammate Oscar Piastri, who ended up fourth after the Mercedes of George Russell, by thirty points going into the second-to-last race in Qatar this coming weekend

The Briton will secure the title in the desert as long as he doesn't surrender more than five points to Piastri in Losail, or seventeen to Verstappen

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

"Verstappen had a good race. I erred early on and was overly aggressive on that opening corner," said Norris

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

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

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

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

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

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

• Recoveries for both Ferrari drivers, after a difficult qualifying, with Lewis Hamilton claiming a point for 10th following beginning at the rear

From the beginning, Lando Norris was true to his statement that he was "not here not to take risks" as he fought hard to protect his advantage from pole position from Verstappen

But following an aggressive cut in front of the Red Bull driver to block the Dutchman's challenge on the inner line, Norris miscalculated his braking zone and went too deep into the turn

This enabled Verstappen to drive past into the first place while Norris lost second place to Russell

During two VSC periods for several opening-lap incidents, including at the start when Racing Bulls' Liam Lawson collided with Piastri, Verstappen slowly stamped his authority on the race

Russell made an early tire change for the hard tyres, but Lando Norris and Verstappen stayed out

Norris pitted five circuits after the Mercedes and Max Verstappen ten laps later

The Red Bull driver was could return still in the lead, Russell having been unable to catch up on the Red Bull car despite his newer rubber

Lando Norris rejoined after Russell from his stop but after a few cautious laps to allow his tires to settle, soon closed his three-point-three second gap to the Mercedes and swept by into runner-up position on the thirty-fourth lap

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

He was instructed to "go and get Max" but it quickly became apparent he had no chance. Max Verstappen was readily able to repel Lando's attacks, and in the final laps the margin increased substantially as the McLaren car started to experience a technical issue which has thus far remained unidentified

Even with dropping almost three seconds a lap, Norris was could hold off Russell because of the size of the advantage he had built while chasing Max Verstappen

The Red Bull driver's sixth win of the championship - just one behind the two McLaren teammates - was achieved in dominant fashion and maintains him in championship contention, at least mathematically, although he needs problems for Norris in both remaining races to overtake him

"It remains a big gap, we consistently attempt to maximise everything we've got," Max Verstappen said

"In upcoming weekends we will attempt to take victory in the event and at the end of Abu Dhabi we will know where we end up, but I'm extremely pleased of everyone"

Oscar Piastri started fifth but lost two places on the first circuit following being clouted by Lawson, who was soon taken out of the battle by a damaged nose section

He followed Liam Lawson's teammate Isack Hadjar for the opening fifteen circuits before overtaking him on the Strip but lost position to Charles Leclerc, who he was able to overtake again during the tire change phase

Piastri ended up behind Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli, who ran almost the whole event on the durable compound after pitting during the initial VSC, but was awarded a five second penalty for a starting procedure violation, which was not clearly visible on video reviews

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

Asked about how he would approach the final two races, he commented: "Just attempt to put myself in the best position I can. I clearly need quite a lot of things to favor me now to win, 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 Kimi Antonelli's time penalty, while Carlos Sainz fell to seventh at the finish, his Williams missing the pace to compete with the leading outfits in the dry conditions, after his heroic showing to qualify third in the wet

Hadjar took eighth ahead of Sauber's Nico Hulkenberg and Lewis Hamilton

The seven-time title winner executed a flying start, up to 13th on the first lap and proceeded to move forwards

He got stuck in a DRS train with a group of additional vehicles but was able to use his strong beginning to rescue a point following the poorest qualifying performance of his racing life