Norris Edges Nearer to Championship as Max Verstappen Secures Vegas Grand Prix Victory

The McLaren Lando Norris stepped nearer to a maiden championship with runner-up position in the Las Vegas Grand Prix following the Red Bull of Max Verstappen

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

Norris will secure the title in the Qatar as long as he doesn't surrender more than five points to Piastri in Losail, or 17 to Verstappen

Piastri, so impressive in the first half of the season, has failed to finish on the top three 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. I've got to congratulate Verstappen and his team"

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

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

• Norris maintained his progress towards the championship despite the win to Verstappen

• Oscar Piastri's challenging performance streak persisted as his championship chances diminish

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

• Fightbacks for both Ferrari drivers, following a difficult qualifying session, with Lewis Hamilton claiming a single point for tenth place following beginning at the back

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

However after an forceful cut in front of Verstappen to head off the Dutchman's challenge on the inside, the McLaren driver misjudged his braking zone and went too deep into the corner

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

During two virtual safety cars for some early incidents, including at the beginning when the Racing Bulls Liam Lawson made contact with Oscar Piastri, Max Verstappen gradually stamped his authority on the event

George Russell undertook an early tire change for the hard tyres, but Norris and Verstappen stayed out

Norris stopped five circuits after the Mercedes driver and Verstappen 10

Verstappen was able to return still in the lead, George Russell having been failed to catch up on the Red Bull even with his fresher tyres

Lando Norris returned behind Russell from his pit stop but after a few cautious laps to let his tyres to settle, quickly closed his 3.3-second gap to the Mercedes and swept by into second place on the thirty-fourth lap

The British driver inquired his race engineer how to run the rest of his event, effectively asking whether he should settle for second or challenge for the lead

He was told to "go and get Max" but it soon became clear he had little opportunity. Verstappen was easily could defend against Lando's challenges, and in the final laps the gap increased significantly as the McLaren car started to experience a mechanical problem which has thus far not been defined

Despite losing almost three seconds a circuit, Norris was able to hold off George Russell because of the extent of the lead he had established while pursuing Max Verstappen

The Verstappen's sixth victory of the season - only one behind both McLaren teammates - was achieved in emphatic style and maintains him in title contention, at least theoretically, although he requires issues for Norris in both remaining races to pass him

"It remains a significant margin, we consistently attempt to optimize everything we've got," Verstappen stated

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

Oscar Piastri started fifth but lost two places on the first circuit following being clouted by Liam Lawson, who was soon taken out of contention by a damaged nose section

He followed Lawson's teammate Isack Hadjar for the opening fifteen circuits before passing him on the Las Vegas Strip but also position to Charles Leclerc, who he was able to overtake again during the tire change phase

Piastri finished behind the Mercedes of Kimi Antonelli, who ran almost the whole event on the durable compound after pitting during the first virtual safety car, but was awarded a five second penalty for a starting procedure violation, which was not clearly visible on replays

"It was a frustrating event from pretty much beginning to end in certain respects," Oscar Piastri told BBC Radio 5 Live

Asked about how he would approach the remaining events, he commented: "Just try to position myself in the best position I can. I clearly require several of factors to favor me now to take the title, but all I can do is make myself in the ideal situation to capitalise if circumstances change"

Charles Leclerc hung on in sixth place, insufficiently close to benefit from Antonelli's penalty, while Sainz fell to seventh at the flag, his Williams car missing the pace to compete with the top teams in the dry, after his impressive performance to start in third in the wet weather

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

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

He became trapped in a DRS train with a bunch of additional vehicles but was could use his electric start to salvage a championship point following the poorest qualifying performance of his racing life