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

The McLaren Lando Norris moved nearer to his first championship with second place in the Las Vegas Grand Prix behind Red Bull's Max Verstappen

The British driver now leads teammate Oscar Piastri, who finished fourth behind the Mercedes of 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 over five points to Piastri in Losail, or 17 to Verstappen

The Australian driver, so impressive in the first half of the season, has not finished on the podium for six races

"Verstappen had a good race. I made the mistake at the beginning and was too punchy on that opening corner," said Norris

"It remains a good result to secure second place. I've got to congratulate Verstappen and his team"

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

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

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

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

• A excellent victory for Max Verstappen to maintain him in the title fight

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

From the beginning, Norris was true to his statement that he was "not present not to take risks" as he fought hard to defend his lead from starting first from Verstappen

But after an forceful move in front of the Red Bull driver to head off the Dutchman's challenge on the inside, Norris miscalculated his braking point and went too deep into the turn

That allowed Max Verstappen to overtake into the lead while the British driver also second place to George Russell

Through two VSC periods for several opening-lap incidents, including at the start when the Racing Bulls Liam Lawson made contact with Piastri, Verstappen gradually stamped his authority on the race

George Russell undertook an early pit stop for the hard tyres, but Lando Norris and Verstappen remained on track

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

Verstappen was able to rejoin still in the lead, George Russell having been unable to catch up on the Red Bull despite his fresher tyres

Lando Norris returned after Russell from his pit stop but following a few cautious laps to allow his tyres to settle, quickly reduced his three-point-three second deficit to the Mercedes driver and swept by into runner-up position on the thirty-fourth lap

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

He was told to "chase down Verstappen" but it quickly became apparent he had little opportunity. Verstappen was easily could defend against Lando's attacks, and in the final laps the gap extended substantially as the McLaren car began to suffer a mechanical problem which has thus far not been defined

Despite losing nearly three seconds a lap, Lando Norris was could defend against George Russell because of the extent of the lead he had built while pursuing Max Verstappen

The Verstappen's sixth win of the championship - just one behind the two McLaren teammates - was achieved in emphatic style and keeps him in championship contention, at least mathematically, even if he requires issues for Lando Norris in both remaining races to overtake him

"It remains a big gap, we always try to maximise everything we've have," Max Verstappen said

"In upcoming weekends we will attempt to win the event and at the end of Abu Dhabi we will know where we finish, but I'm very proud of the entire team"

Oscar Piastri began in fifth but dropped two places on the first circuit following being clouted by Liam Lawson, who was soon taken out of contention by a damaged front wing

He followed Lawson's team-mate Isack Hadjar for the first 15 laps before passing him on the Las Vegas Strip but lost out to Leclerc, who he was able to repass during the pit-stop period

The Australian finished behind the Mercedes of Kimi Antonelli, who ran nearly the entire race on the durable compound following pitting during the first virtual safety car, but was awarded a five second penalty for a starting procedure violation, which was not immediately obvious on video reviews

"It proved to be a disappointing event from essentially start to finish in some ways," Oscar Piastri informed BBC Radio 5 Live

Questioned about how he would tackle the remaining events, he commented: "Simply attempt to put myself in the optimal situation I can. I clearly require several of factors to favor me now to take the title, but my only option is ensure I'm in the best position to capitalise if circumstances change"

Leclerc held on in sixth place, insufficiently close to benefit from Kimi Antonelli's penalty, while Sainz dropped to seventh at the flag, his Williams lacking the pace to challenge with the leading outfits in the dry conditions, following his heroic performance to qualify in third in the wet

Hadjar secured eighth before Sauber's Nico Hulkenberg and Hamilton

The seven-time champion made a strong getaway, rising to thirteenth on the opening circuit and proceeded to advance positions

He got stuck in a DRS train with a group of additional vehicles but was could employ his strong beginning to rescue a championship point following the worst qualifying performance of his racing life