Norris Advances Closer to Championship as Verstappen Claims Las Vegas F1 Race Victory

McLaren's Lando Norris moved closer to a maiden championship with runner-up position in the Las Vegas Grand Prix following the Red Bull of Max Verstappen

Norris currently heads teammate Oscar Piastri, who ended up in fourth place after the Mercedes of George Russell, by 30 points going into the second-to-last race in Qatar next 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 17 to Verstappen

Piastri, so strong in the first half of the season, has not finished on the top three for six consecutive events

"Max had a strong performance. I made the mistake at the beginning and was overly aggressive on that first turn," stated Norris

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

Following Qatar, the final race of the championship takes place in Abu Dhabi on December 7th

The main developments of among Formula 1's most high-profile races included:

• Norris continued his momentum towards the title despite the victory to Verstappen

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

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

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

From the beginning, Norris was true to his statement that he was "not present to avoid risks" as he battled aggressively to defend his advantage from pole position from Max Verstappen

But following an forceful move in front of Verstappen to block the Dutchman's challenge on the inner line, the McLaren driver misjudged his braking zone and ran deep into the turn

This allowed Max Verstappen to drive past into the first place while Norris lost the runner-up spot to George Russell

During two VSC periods for some early incidents, featuring at the start when the Racing Bulls Liam Lawson collided with Oscar Piastri, Verstappen gradually stamped his authority on the race

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

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

Verstappen was could return still in the lead, Russell having been failed to catch up on the Red Bull despite his newer rubber

Lando Norris returned behind George Russell from his stop but following a few cautious laps to let his tires to settle, soon closed his three-point-three second deficit to the Mercedes and swept by into second place on lap 34

The British driver inquired his engineer how to run the rest of his event, essentially asking whether he should settle for second place or challenge for the lead

He was instructed to "go and get Verstappen" but it quickly became apparent he had little opportunity. Verstappen was readily able to defend against Norris' attacks, and in the final laps the margin extended significantly as the McLaren started to suffer a mechanical problem which has so far remained unidentified

Even with losing almost three seconds a lap, Lando Norris was could hold off George Russell because of the extent of the lead he had established while chasing Max Verstappen

The Verstappen's sixth victory of the championship - just one less than both McLaren drivers - was achieved in emphatic style and keeps him in title contention, at least theoretically, even if he requires problems for Lando Norris in both remaining races to overtake him

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

"In upcoming weekends we will try to win the event and at the end 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 first circuit following being hit 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 passing him on the Strip but lost position to Leclerc, who he was could repass during the pit-stop period

The Australian ended up behind the Mercedes of Kimi Antonelli, who ran nearly the entire race on the durable compound after stopping during the initial VSC, but was awarded a five second time penalty for a starting procedure infringement, which was not clearly visible on replays

"It proved to be a frustrating race from essentially start to finish in some ways," Oscar Piastri told race broadcasters

Questioned about how he would tackle the final two races, he commented: "Simply attempt to put myself in the best position I can. I clearly need several of things to go my way at this stage to win, but all I can do is make myself in the best position to take advantage 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 place at the finish, his Williams missing the pace to challenge with the leading outfits in the dry conditions, following his impressive performance to qualify in third in the wet weather

Hadjar secured eighth before Sauber's Nico Hulkenberg and Lewis Hamilton

The seven-time champion executed a flying start, rising to 13th on the first lap and proceeded to advance positions

He got stuck in a DRS train with a group of additional vehicles but was able to employ his strong beginning to salvage a point after the poorest qualifying session of his racing life