Lando Norris Moves Nearer to Title as Verstappen Claims Vegas F1 Race Win

McLaren's Lando Norris moved closer to a maiden championship with second place in the Vegas race behind the Red Bull of Max Verstappen

The British driver now leads teammate Oscar Piastri, who finished fourth after 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 Qatar as long as he does not lose over five points to Piastri in Losail, or seventeen to Verstappen

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

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

"It's still a positive outcome to secure second place. I've got to praise Max and his team"

After 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 were:

• Norris continued his momentum towards the title losing the victory to Max Verstappen

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

• A superb win for Max Verstappen to maintain him in the title fight

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

From the beginning, Norris was true to his claim that he was "not present not to take risks" as he fought hard to defend his advantage from pole position from Max Verstappen

However following an forceful cut in front of Verstappen to head off the Dutchman's challenge on the inner line, the McLaren driver miscalculated his braking point and ran deep into the turn

That allowed Max Verstappen to overtake into the lead while Norris also second place to Russell

Through two virtual safety cars for some early incidents, featuring at the beginning when the Racing Bulls Liam Lawson collided with Piastri, Max Verstappen gradually established dominance on the event

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

The McLaren driver pitted five circuits following the Mercedes and Max Verstappen 10

The Red Bull driver was could return still in the first place, Russell having been unable to close in on the Red Bull even with his newer rubber

Lando Norris returned behind George Russell from his pit stop but after a few cautious laps to allow his tires to warm up, quickly closed his three-point-three second gap to the Mercedes driver and overtook into runner-up position on the thirty-fourth lap

The British driver inquired his engineer how to run the remainder of his event, essentially questioning whether he should accept second place or attack

He was instructed to "go and get Verstappen" but it quickly became apparent he had no chance. Verstappen was easily could repel Norris' challenges, and in the closing stages the margin extended substantially as the McLaren began to suffer a mechanical problem which has so far remained unidentified

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

The Verstappen's sixth victory of the season - just one behind both McLaren teammates - was taken in dominant fashion and maintains him in title contention, at least mathematically, even if he needs problems for Lando Norris in both remaining races to pass him

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

"In upcoming weekends we will try to take victory in the event and by the conclusion of Abu Dhabi we will see where we end up, but I'm extremely pleased of everyone"

Piastri began in fifth but lost two positions on the first circuit after being clouted by Lawson, who was soon taken out of the battle by a damaged front wing

He followed Liam Lawson's teammate Isack Hadjar for the first 15 laps before passing him on the Las Vegas Strip but also position to Leclerc, who he was could overtake again during the tire change phase

The Australian finished behind the Mercedes of Kimi Antonelli, who competed almost the whole event on the durable compound after pitting during the initial VSC, but was given a five-second time penalty for a start-line infringement, which was not immediately obvious on video reviews

"It was a frustrating event from essentially beginning to end in certain respects," Piastri told BBC Radio 5 Live

Asked about how he would tackle the final two races, he commented: "Just try to put myself in the best position I can. I obviously need several of factors to favor me now to take the title, but all I can do is ensure I'm in the best position to take advantage if something happens"

Charles Leclerc held on in sixth position, insufficiently close to gain from Antonelli's penalty, while Sainz dropped to seventh place at the finish, his Williams lacking the pace to challenge with the leading outfits in the dry, after his heroic showing to start in third in the wet weather

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

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

He got stuck in a slipstream group with a group of additional vehicles but was able to use his strong beginning to rescue a championship point following the worst qualifying session of his career