Norris Advances Closer to Title as Verstappen Takes Las Vegas F1 Race Victory

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

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

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

Piastri, so impressive in the opening stages of the championship, has not finished on the top three for six races

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

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

Following Qatar, the final race of the championship follows in Abu Dhabi on 7 December

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

• Lando Norris continued his momentum towards the title losing the win to Verstappen

• Piastri's challenging run of form continued as his title hopes diminish

• A excellent win for Max Verstappen to keep him in the title fight

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

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

But after an forceful cut in front of the Red Bull driver to head off the Verstappen's challenge on the inside, the McLaren driver miscalculated his braking point and went too deep into the corner

That enabled Max Verstappen to overtake into the lead while the British driver also the runner-up spot to Russell

Through two VSC periods for several opening-lap incidents, including at the start when Racing Bulls' Liam Lawson made contact with Piastri, Max Verstappen slowly established dominance on the race

Russell made an early pit stop for the more durable compound, but Lando Norris and Max Verstappen stayed out

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

The Red Bull driver was could rejoin still in the lead, George Russell having been failed to close in on the Red Bull car despite his newer rubber

Lando Norris rejoined behind George Russell from his pit stop but following a several careful circuits to allow his tires to warm up, quickly reduced his 3.3-second deficit to the Mercedes and swept by into second place on the thirty-fourth lap

The British driver inquired his engineer how to run the remainder of his race, effectively asking whether he should accept second place or attack

He was instructed to "chase down Verstappen" but it soon became clear he had little opportunity. Verstappen was easily could defend against Norris' challenges, and in the final laps the margin increased substantially as the McLaren car began to experience a mechanical problem which has so far not been defined

Despite dropping almost three seconds a circuit, Norris was could hold off George Russell because of the size of the lead he had established while chasing Max Verstappen

The Red Bull driver's sixth win of the championship - just one behind both McLaren drivers - was taken in emphatic style and keeps him in championship contention, at least mathematically, even if he needs problems for Lando Norris in both remaining races to pass him

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

"In upcoming weekends we will try to take victory in the race and at the end of Abu Dhabi we will know where we finish, but I'm very proud of everyone"

Piastri started in fifth but lost two positions on the opening lap following being hit by Liam Lawson, who was quickly taken out of the battle by a damaged nose section

He trailed Liam Lawson's teammate Isack Hadjar for the opening fifteen circuits before passing him on the Strip but lost position to Charles Leclerc, who he was able to repass during the pit-stop period

The Australian ended up after the Mercedes of Kimi Antonelli, who ran nearly the whole event on the durable compound after pitting during the initial VSC, but was awarded a five second penalty for a starting procedure infringement, which was not clearly visible on video reviews

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

Questioned about how he would approach the final two races, he said: "Just try to put myself in the best position I can. I clearly require quite a lot of things to go my way at this stage to win, but my only option is ensure I'm in the best position to take advantage if circumstances change"

Charles Leclerc held on in sixth position, insufficiently close to gain from Kimi Antonelli's penalty, while Sainz dropped to seventh place at the flag, his Williams car missing the pace to challenge with the top teams in the dry, after his impressive performance to qualify third in the wet weather

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

The seven-time champion made a strong getaway, rising to 13th on the opening circuit and continued to advance positions

He got stuck in a DRS train with a group of additional vehicles but was able to employ his electric start to salvage a championship point after the worst qualifying performance of his racing life