Norris Edges Nearer to Title as Verstappen Secures Las Vegas F1 Race Victory

McLaren's Lando Norris stepped closer to a maiden championship with runner-up position in the Vegas race following the Red Bull of Max Verstappen

Norris currently heads fellow McLaren driver Oscar Piastri, who finished fourth behind the Mercedes of George Russell, by 30 points going into the penultimate race in Qatar this coming weekend

Norris will win the title 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 strong in the opening stages of the season, has failed to finish on the podium for six consecutive events

"Max had a good race. I made the mistake early on and was overly aggressive on that first turn," stated Norris

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

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

The key stories of one of Formula 1's most prestigious races were:

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

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

• A excellent win for Verstappen to keep him in the championship battle

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

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

However following an forceful cut in front of the Red Bull driver to block the Dutchman's attack on the inside, Norris misjudged his braking zone and went too deep into the corner

That allowed Verstappen to drive past into the first place while the British driver also second place to George Russell

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

George Russell undertook an early tire change for the more durable compound, but Norris and Verstappen stayed out

Norris stopped five circuits after the Mercedes driver and Verstappen 10

Verstappen was could return still in the first place, George Russell having been unable to close in on the Red Bull car despite his newer rubber

Norris rejoined behind George Russell from his stop but following a few cautious laps to let his tyres to settle, quickly reduced his 3.3-second deficit to the Mercedes driver and overtook into runner-up position on lap 34

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

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

Even with losing nearly three seconds a circuit, Lando Norris was able to hold off George Russell because of the extent of the lead he had built while pursuing Verstappen

The Red Bull driver's sixth victory of the season - just one behind both McLaren teammates - was achieved in dominant fashion and maintains him in championship contention, at minimum mathematically, although he requires issues for Norris in the final two events to overtake him

"It remains a big gap, we consistently attempt to optimize all we've got," Verstappen said

"In upcoming weekends we will attempt to win the event and by the conclusion of Abu Dhabi we will know where we finish, but I'm very proud of everyone"

Piastri began in fifth but dropped two places on the first circuit after being clouted by Lawson, who was soon eliminated of the battle by a damaged front wing

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

Piastri finished behind the Mercedes of Kimi Antonelli, who competed nearly the whole event on the durable compound following stopping during the initial VSC, but was given a five-second penalty for a start-line violation, which was not immediately obvious on video reviews

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

Questioned about how he would approach the final two races, he said: "Simply attempt to position myself in the best position I can. I clearly require quite a lot of factors to favor me at this stage to win, but all I can do is ensure I'm in the ideal situation to take advantage if something happens"

Leclerc held on in sixth place, insufficiently close to gain from Antonelli's time penalty, while Sainz dropped to seventh place at the flag, his Williams missing the pace to compete with the top teams in the dry conditions, after his heroic performance to qualify in third in the wet

Isack Hadjar took eighth place before 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 additional vehicles but was able to employ his strong beginning to rescue a championship point following the poorest qualifying session of his racing life