Norris Moves Closer to Championship as Verstappen Takes Las Vegas F1 Race Victory

McLaren's Lando Norris stepped nearer to a maiden championship with second place in the Las Vegas Grand Prix behind 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 heading to the second-to-last race in Qatar next weekend

The Briton will claim the title in the desert 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 not finished on the podium for six consecutive events

"Max had a good race. I erred at the beginning and was too punchy on that opening corner," stated Norris

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

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

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

• Norris maintained his momentum towards the championship losing the victory to Max Verstappen

• Piastri's difficult performance streak continued as his championship chances wane

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

• Fightbacks for the two Ferrari drivers, following a tough qualifying, with Lewis Hamilton securing a point for tenth place following beginning at the back

From the beginning, Lando Norris was true to his statement that he was "not here not to take risks" as he fought hard to protect his advantage from pole position from Max Verstappen

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

This enabled Max Verstappen to overtake into the lead while Norris also the runner-up spot to George Russell

During two VSC periods for several opening-lap incidents, including at the beginning when Racing Bulls' Liam Lawson collided with Oscar Piastri, Verstappen slowly stamped his authority on the race

Russell undertook an early pit stop for the more durable compound, but Norris and Max Verstappen remained on track

Norris stopped five laps following the Mercedes driver and Verstappen 10

The Red Bull driver was able to return still in the first place, George Russell having been unable to catch up on the Red Bull despite his fresher tyres

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

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

He was told to "go and get Verstappen" but it quickly became apparent he had little opportunity. Max Verstappen was easily could defend against Lando's challenges, and in the final laps the margin increased substantially as the McLaren car started to experience a mechanical problem which has so far remained unidentified

Despite dropping nearly three seconds a circuit, Lando Norris was able to hold off George Russell because of the size of the lead he had established while chasing Verstappen

The Red Bull driver's sixth victory of the season - only one behind both McLaren drivers - was taken in emphatic style and maintains him in championship contention, at minimum mathematically, even if he needs issues for Norris in the final two events to overtake him

"It's still a significant margin, we consistently attempt to maximise everything we've got," Max Verstappen stated

"In upcoming weekends we will attempt to take victory in the race and at the end of Abu Dhabi we will know where we end up, but I'm very proud of the entire team"

Piastri started fifth but lost two positions on the first circuit following being clouted by Liam Lawson, who was quickly eliminated of the battle by a broken front wing

He trailed Lawson's team-mate Isack Hadjar for the first 15 laps before passing him on the Strip but lost out to Leclerc, who he was could repass during the tire change phase

Piastri finished behind Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli, who competed almost the entire race on hard tyres after pitting during the first virtual safety car, but was given a five-second penalty for a starting procedure violation, which was not clearly visible on replays

"It proved to be a disappointing race from pretty much start to finish in certain respects," Oscar Piastri informed BBC Radio 5 Live

Asked about how he would tackle the final two races, he said: "Just attempt to put myself in the optimal situation I can. I clearly require quite a lot of things to go my way now to take the title, but all I can do is make myself in the best position to capitalise if something happens"

Leclerc held on in sixth place, insufficiently close to gain from Antonelli's time penalty, while Sainz fell to seventh at the finish, his Williams missing the pace to challenge with the top teams in the dry, following his impressive performance to qualify in third in the wet

Isack Hadjar took eighth ahead of Sauber's Nico Hulkenberg and Hamilton

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

He got stuck in a slipstream group with a bunch of other cars but was able to employ his strong beginning to salvage a point after the poorest qualifying performance of his career