Norris Advances Closer to Championship as Verstappen Takes Vegas Grand Prix Victory

McLaren's Lando Norris moved nearer to a maiden world title with second place in the Las Vegas Grand Prix behind Red Bull's Max Verstappen

Norris currently heads fellow McLaren driver Oscar Piastri, who finished fourth behind Mercedes' George Russell, by thirty points going into the second-to-last race in Qatar this coming weekend

Norris will secure 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 strong in the opening stages of the championship, has not finished on the podium for six races

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

"It's still a good result to get second. I've got to congratulate Max and Red Bull"

Following Qatar, the last event of the season takes place in Abu Dhabi on December 7th

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

• Lando Norris maintained his progress towards the title despite the victory to Verstappen

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

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

• Fightbacks for both Ferrari drivers, following a tough qualifying, with Lewis Hamilton claiming a single point for 10th following beginning at the back

At the start, Norris was faithful to his statement that he was "not present to avoid risks" as he fought hard to protect his lead from starting first from Verstappen

But after an aggressive cut in front of the Red Bull driver to block the Dutchman's challenge on the inner line, the McLaren driver misjudged his braking zone and ran deep into the corner

That enabled Max Verstappen to drive past into the lead while Norris lost the runner-up spot to George Russell

During two virtual safety cars 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 event

George Russell made an early tire change for the more durable compound, but Lando Norris and Verstappen remained on track

The McLaren driver pitted five laps following the Mercedes and Max Verstappen ten laps later

Verstappen was could rejoin still in the first place, George Russell having been unable to catch up on the Red Bull even with his fresher tyres

Norris rejoined behind George Russell from his pit stop but following a several careful circuits to let his tyres to settle, soon reduced his 3.3-second gap to the Mercedes driver and swept by into runner-up position on lap 34

Norris inquired his engineer how to run the remainder of his race, essentially questioning whether he should settle for second place or attack

He was instructed to "go and get Verstappen" but it quickly became apparent he had no chance. Verstappen was readily could defend against Lando's attacks, and in the closing stages the margin extended significantly as the McLaren car started to suffer a mechanical problem which has so far remained unidentified

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

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

"It's still a significant margin, we always try to optimize all we've got," Verstappen stated

"In upcoming weekends we will try to win the event and by the conclusion of Abu Dhabi we will see where we end up, but I'm extremely pleased of the entire team"

Piastri began in fifth but lost two places on the first circuit following being hit by Liam Lawson, who was quickly eliminated of contention by a damaged front wing

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

The Australian ended up after the Mercedes of Kimi Antonelli, who competed almost the whole event on hard tyres following pitting during the initial VSC, but was given a five-second penalty for a starting procedure infringement, which was not clearly visible on replays

"It proved to be a disappointing event from essentially beginning to end in certain respects," Oscar Piastri informed BBC Radio 5 Live

Questioned about how he would approach the remaining events, he commented: "Just try to put myself in the optimal situation I can. I clearly need several of factors to go my way at this stage to win, but all I can do is ensure I'm in the best position to capitalise if something happens"

Charles Leclerc hung on in sixth place, insufficiently close to benefit from Kimi Antonelli's penalty, while Carlos Sainz fell to seventh at the finish, his Williams lacking the speed to challenge with the top teams in the dry, following his impressive performance to qualify third in the wet

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

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

He got stuck in a slipstream group with a group of other cars but was could use his strong beginning to salvage a championship point after the worst qualifying performance of his career