Norris Advances Closer to Title as Max Verstappen Secures Vegas Grand Prix Win

The McLaren Lando Norris moved closer to a maiden world title with second place in the Vegas race following the Red Bull of Max Verstappen

The British driver currently heads fellow McLaren driver Oscar Piastri, who ended up in fourth place behind Mercedes' George Russell, by 30 points going into the second-to-last race in Qatar this coming weekend

Norris will win the championship in the desert as long as he doesn't surrender over five points to Piastri in Losail, or 17 to Verstappen

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

"Verstappen had a good race. I erred at the beginning and was too punchy on that first turn," stated Norris

"It remains a positive outcome to secure second. I've got to praise Max 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 prestigious races were:

• Norris continued his progress towards the title despite the victory to Max Verstappen

• Piastri's difficult run of form persisted as his championship chances wane

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

• Fightbacks for both Ferrari drivers, following a difficult qualifying session, with Lewis Hamilton securing a point for 10th following starting at the back

From the beginning, Lando Norris was faithful to his statement that he was "not present not to take risks" as he battled aggressively to protect his advantage from pole position from Max Verstappen

But after an aggressive cut in front of Verstappen to head off the Dutchman's challenge on the inside, the McLaren driver miscalculated his braking point and ran deep into the corner

That allowed Verstappen to overtake into the lead while Norris also the runner-up spot to Russell

Through two virtual safety cars for some early incidents, including at the beginning when Racing Bulls' Liam Lawson made contact with Piastri, Max Verstappen slowly established dominance on the event

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

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

Verstappen was able to rejoin still in the lead, Russell having been failed to catch up on the Red Bull even with his fresher tyres

Norris returned after George Russell from his pit stop but after a few cautious laps to let his tires to settle, quickly reduced his 3.3-second gap to the Mercedes and overtook into runner-up position on the thirty-fourth lap

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

He was instructed to "chase down Verstappen" but it soon became clear he had no chance. Max Verstappen was easily could defend against Norris' challenges, and in the final laps the margin extended significantly as the McLaren car began to experience a mechanical problem which has so far not been defined

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

The Verstappen's sixth victory of the season - just one behind both McLaren drivers - was achieved in emphatic style and keeps him in title contention, at minimum mathematically, although he needs issues for Norris in the final two events to overtake him

"It remains a significant margin, we always try to optimize everything we've have," Verstappen said

"During the coming events we will try to take victory in 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"

Piastri started in fifth but lost two positions on the first circuit after being clouted by Liam Lawson, who was quickly eliminated of the battle by a damaged nose section

He followed Lawson's team-mate Isack Hadjar for the opening fifteen circuits before overtaking him on the Strip but lost out to Charles Leclerc, who he was could overtake again during the pit-stop period

Piastri finished after Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli, who competed almost the entire race on hard tyres following stopping during the first virtual safety car, but was awarded a five-second time penalty for a starting procedure infringement, which was not immediately obvious on replays

"It was a frustrating event from essentially start to finish in some ways," Piastri informed race broadcasters

Asked about how he would tackle the final two races, he said: "Simply try to put myself in the best position I can. I clearly need several of things to favor me at this stage to take the title, but my only option is make myself in the best position to capitalise if something happens"

Charles Leclerc held on in sixth place, not close enough to gain from Antonelli's time penalty, while Carlos Sainz fell to seventh at the flag, his Williams car lacking the pace to challenge with the leading outfits in the dry, following his heroic showing to qualify in third in the wet weather

Hadjar took eighth place before Sauber's Nico Hulkenberg and Lewis Hamilton

The seven-time title winner executed a strong getaway, rising to 13th on the opening circuit and proceeded to advance positions

He got stuck in a DRS train with a bunch of additional vehicles but was able to use his electric start to salvage a point after the poorest qualifying performance of his racing life