Lando Norris Edges Nearer to Title as Verstappen Secures Vegas F1 Race Win

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

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

Norris will win the title in the desert as long as he doesn't surrender more than five points to Piastri in Losail, or seventeen to Verstappen

The Australian driver, so impressive in the first half of the season, has failed to finish on the podium for six races

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

"It's still a positive outcome to secure second. I've got to congratulate Verstappen 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 high-profile races included:

• Lando Norris continued his momentum towards the championship losing the win to Verstappen

• Oscar Piastri's difficult run of form continued as his title hopes wane

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

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

At the start, Lando Norris was true to his claim that he was "not here not to take risks" as he fought hard to protect his advantage from pole position from Verstappen

However following an forceful cut in front of Verstappen to head off the Verstappen's challenge on the inside, Norris miscalculated his braking zone and went too deep into the turn

This enabled Max Verstappen to drive past into the first place while Norris also second place to Russell

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

George Russell made an early pit stop for the hard tyres, but Lando Norris and Max Verstappen stayed out

Norris stopped five circuits following the Mercedes and Verstappen ten laps later

Verstappen was could rejoin still in the first place, Russell having been failed to catch up on the Red Bull despite his fresher tyres

Norris rejoined behind Russell from his pit stop but after a several careful circuits to allow his tyres to settle, quickly closed his three-point-three second gap to the Mercedes and swept by into runner-up position on the thirty-fourth lap

The British driver asked his engineer how to manage the remainder of his race, essentially questioning whether he should accept second or challenge for the lead

He was instructed to "chase down Verstappen" but it soon became clear he had no chance. Verstappen was easily could repel Norris' attacks, and in the closing stages the margin extended significantly as the McLaren car began to experience a technical issue which has thus far remained unidentified

Despite losing almost three seconds a lap, Lando Norris was could hold off Russell because of the extent of the advantage he had established while chasing Max Verstappen

The Verstappen's sixth win of the season - just one less than the two McLaren drivers - was taken in emphatic style and maintains him in championship contention, at least mathematically, even if he needs issues for Norris in the final two events to pass him

"It's still a big gap, we always try to optimize all we've got," Max Verstappen stated

"During the coming events we will try to take victory in the race and by the conclusion of Abu Dhabi we will know where we finish, but I'm very proud of everyone"

Oscar Piastri started in fifth but lost two places on the opening lap after being clouted by Liam Lawson, who was quickly taken out of the battle by a broken nose section

He trailed Liam Lawson's teammate Isack Hadjar for the opening fifteen circuits before overtaking him on the Las Vegas Strip but also out to Charles Leclerc, who he was able to repass during the tire change phase

Piastri ended up behind Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli, who ran nearly the whole event on the durable compound after pitting during the initial VSC, but was given a five second penalty for a start-line infringement, which was not immediately obvious on replays

"It was a frustrating event from essentially start to finish in certain respects," Piastri informed race broadcasters

Questioned about how he would approach the final two races, he commented: "Simply attempt to position myself in the optimal situation I can. I clearly need several of factors to favor me at this stage to take the title, but all I can do is ensure I'm in the best position to capitalise if something happens"

Leclerc hung on in sixth place, insufficiently close to gain from Antonelli's time penalty, while Sainz dropped to seventh place at the flag, his Williams car missing the pace to challenge with the top teams in the dry conditions, after his impressive showing to qualify in third in the wet weather

Hadjar took eighth before the Sauber of Nico Hulkenberg and Hamilton

The seven-time title winner made a flying start, up to 13th on the opening circuit and continued to advance positions

He became trapped in a slipstream group with a group of other cars but was able to employ his strong beginning to rescue a championship point after the worst qualifying session of his career