Lando Norris Edges Nearer to Title as Max Verstappen Claims Vegas Grand Prix Victory

McLaren's Lando Norris stepped closer to his first world title with second place in the Vegas race following Red Bull's Max Verstappen

The British driver currently heads teammate Oscar Piastri, who ended up fourth behind the Mercedes of George Russell, by 30 points going into the second-to-last race in Qatar next weekend

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

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

"It's still a positive outcome to get second. I've got to congratulate Max and his team"

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

The main developments of among Formula 1's most prestigious races were:

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

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

• A superb win for Verstappen to maintain him in the title fight

• Recoveries for both Ferrari drivers, after a difficult qualifying, with Lewis Hamilton claiming a single point for 10th after starting at the back

At the start, Lando Norris was true to his claim that he was "not here to avoid risks" as he battled aggressively to defend his advantage from pole position from Max Verstappen

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

This 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 start when the Racing Bulls Liam Lawson made contact with Oscar Piastri, Max Verstappen gradually stamped his authority on the race

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

The McLaren driver stopped five laps after the Mercedes driver and Max Verstappen 10

The Red Bull driver was able to rejoin still in the lead, George Russell having been failed to close in on the Red Bull despite his newer rubber

Lando Norris returned behind Russell from his pit stop but after a several careful circuits to allow his tires to settle, soon reduced his three-point-three second gap to the Mercedes and overtook into runner-up position on lap 34

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

He was instructed to "chase down Max" but it soon became clear he had little opportunity. Verstappen was readily could repel Lando's attacks, and in the closing stages the margin increased significantly as the McLaren began to experience a technical issue which has so far remained unidentified

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

The Red Bull driver's sixth victory of the season - just one behind the two McLaren drivers - was taken in dominant fashion and maintains him in championship contention, at least theoretically, even if he requires issues for Lando Norris in both remaining races to pass him

"It remains a big gap, we consistently attempt to optimize everything we've have," Max Verstappen stated

"In upcoming weekends we will try to take victory in the event and at the end of Abu Dhabi we will see where we finish, but I'm extremely pleased of the entire team"

Piastri began in fifth but dropped two positions on the opening lap after being clouted by Lawson, who was soon eliminated of contention by a damaged front wing

He followed Lawson's teammate Isack Hadjar for the first 15 laps before overtaking him on the Las Vegas Strip but lost 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 competed 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 infringement, which was not clearly visible on video reviews

"It was a frustrating event from pretty much start to finish in some ways," Oscar Piastri told race broadcasters

Questioned about how he would tackle the final two races, he said: "Simply try to position myself in the optimal situation I can. I obviously require several of factors to go my way 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 Kimi Antonelli's penalty, while Sainz dropped to seventh at the flag, his Williams lacking the speed to compete with the leading outfits in the dry conditions, after his heroic showing to qualify in third in the wet weather

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

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

He got stuck in a slipstream group with a group of additional vehicles but was could use his electric start to rescue a point after the worst qualifying session of his career