Norris Edges Closer to Title as Max Verstappen Claims Vegas Grand Prix Win

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

The British driver currently heads teammate Oscar Piastri, who finished in fourth place behind the Mercedes of George Russell, by 30 points heading to the penultimate race in Qatar next weekend

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

Piastri, so impressive in the first half of the championship, has failed to finish on the top three for six consecutive events

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

"It remains a positive outcome to secure second. I've got to congratulate Max and Red Bull"

After Qatar, the final race of the season takes place in Abu Dhabi on 7 December

The main developments of one of Formula 1's most prestigious races included:

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

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

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

• Fightbacks for the two Ferrari drivers, following a tough qualifying session, with Lewis Hamilton claiming a point for tenth place following starting at the rear

From the beginning, Lando Norris was faithful to his claim that he was "not here to avoid risks" as he fought hard to protect his lead from starting first from Max Verstappen

But after an forceful cut in front of the Red Bull driver to head off the Dutchman's attack on the inside, the McLaren driver misjudged his braking zone and ran deep into the corner

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

Through two VSC periods for several opening-lap incidents, including at the beginning when the Racing Bulls Liam Lawson made contact with Piastri, Max Verstappen slowly stamped his authority on the race

Russell made 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 ten laps later

Verstappen was able to rejoin still in the lead, Russell having been failed to close in on the Red Bull even with his newer rubber

Norris rejoined after Russell from his pit stop but following a few cautious laps to let his tyres to settle, soon closed his 3.3-second deficit to the Mercedes and swept by into runner-up position on lap 34

Norris asked his engineer how to manage the remainder of his event, effectively asking 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 no chance. Verstappen was easily able to defend against Norris' challenges, and in the closing stages the margin increased substantially as the McLaren started to experience a technical issue which has so far remained unidentified

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

The Verstappen's sixth win of the season - only one behind both McLaren drivers - was taken in dominant fashion and maintains him in championship contention, at least theoretically, although he requires problems for Norris in both remaining races to overtake him

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

"During the coming events we will attempt to take victory in the race and at the end of Abu Dhabi we will see where we finish, but I'm extremely pleased of the entire team"

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

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

The Australian ended up after the Mercedes of Kimi Antonelli, who competed nearly the entire race on the durable compound following pitting during the initial VSC, but was awarded a five-second penalty for a start-line infringement, which was not clearly visible on video reviews

"It was a frustrating event from pretty much start to finish in some ways," Oscar Piastri informed BBC Radio 5 Live

Asked about how he would approach the final two races, he said: "Simply attempt to position myself in the optimal situation I can. I clearly need several of things to favor me now to take the title, but all I can do is make myself in the ideal situation to capitalise if something happens"

Charles Leclerc hung on in sixth position, not close enough to benefit from Kimi Antonelli's time penalty, while Carlos Sainz dropped to seventh at the flag, his Williams lacking the pace to compete with the leading outfits in the dry, after his heroic performance to start in third in the wet

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

The seven-time title winner made a flying start, rising to thirteenth on the first lap and proceeded to advance positions

He got stuck in a slipstream group with a bunch of other cars but was could use his electric start to salvage a championship point after the worst qualifying session of his racing life