Lando Norris Edges Closer to Title as Max Verstappen Claims Las Vegas Grand Prix Win

The McLaren Lando Norris moved nearer to a maiden world title with second place in the Vegas race behind Red Bull's Max Verstappen

The British driver currently heads teammate Oscar Piastri, who ended up in fourth place after the Mercedes of George Russell, by thirty points heading to the second-to-last race in Qatar next weekend

Norris will claim the title in the Qatar as long as he does not lose more than five points to Piastri in Losail, or 17 to Verstappen

The Australian driver, so impressive in the opening stages of the championship, has not finished on the podium for six races

"Verstappen had a strong performance. I erred early on and was too punchy on that first turn," stated Norris

"It's still a good result to get second. I've got to praise Max and his team"

Following 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 maintained his progress towards the title despite the win to Max Verstappen

• Piastri's difficult run of form continued as his championship chances diminish

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

• Recoveries for both Ferrari drivers, following a tough qualifying, with Lewis Hamilton securing a point for 10th following beginning at the back

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

However following an aggressive cut in front of the Red Bull driver to block the Verstappen's attack on the inside, Norris miscalculated his braking point and ran deep into the corner

This allowed Verstappen to drive past into the lead while the British driver also the runner-up spot to Russell

Through two virtual safety cars for several opening-lap incidents, including at the start when the Racing Bulls Liam Lawson collided with Piastri, Verstappen slowly established dominance on the race

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

The McLaren driver pitted five circuits after the Mercedes and Verstappen ten laps later

The Red Bull driver was able to return still in the first place, Russell having been failed to close in on the Red Bull car despite his fresher tyres

Norris rejoined behind Russell from his pit stop but after a several careful circuits to let his tyres to warm up, quickly closed his three-point-three second gap to the Mercedes 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, effectively questioning whether he should accept second place or challenge for the lead

He was instructed to "chase down Verstappen" but it quickly became apparent he had no chance. Verstappen was easily able to defend against Lando's challenges, and in the final laps the margin increased significantly as the McLaren car began to experience a mechanical problem which has thus far not been defined

Even with losing nearly three seconds a circuit, Lando Norris was able to defend against Russell because of the size of the lead he had established while pursuing Max Verstappen

The Red Bull driver's sixth victory of the season - only one less than both McLaren teammates - was achieved in dominant fashion and keeps him in title contention, at least mathematically, even if he requires problems for Norris in the final two events to pass him

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

"During the coming events we will attempt to win the race and by the conclusion of Abu Dhabi we will know where we end up, but I'm extremely pleased of the entire team"

Piastri began fifth but dropped two positions on the opening lap after being hit by Liam Lawson, who was soon eliminated of the battle by a broken front wing

He followed Liam Lawson's team-mate Isack Hadjar for the first 15 laps before overtaking him on the Las Vegas Strip but also out to Leclerc, who he was could repass during the tire change phase

Piastri finished behind the Mercedes of Kimi Antonelli, who competed nearly the entire race on the durable compound following pitting during the initial VSC, but was awarded a five-second time penalty for a start-line infringement, which was not clearly visible on replays

"It proved to be a frustrating race from pretty much beginning to end in some ways," Oscar Piastri told BBC Radio 5 Live

Asked about how he would approach the final two races, he commented: "Simply try to put myself in the optimal situation I can. I obviously need several of things to favor me at this stage to win, but all I can do is make myself in the ideal situation to capitalise if something happens"

Charles Leclerc hung on in sixth position, insufficiently close to benefit from Antonelli's time penalty, while Sainz fell to seventh place at the finish, his Williams car missing the speed to challenge with the leading outfits in the dry conditions, following his impressive performance to start third in the wet

Isack Hadjar took eighth before the Sauber of Nico Hulkenberg and Lewis Hamilton

The seven-time champion executed a strong getaway, rising to thirteenth on the first lap and continued to move forwards

He became trapped in a DRS train with a group of other cars but was able to employ his strong beginning to salvage a point following the poorest qualifying performance of his career