Lando Norris Advances 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 Vegas race behind Red Bull's Max Verstappen

The British driver now leads teammate Oscar Piastri, who finished in fourth place behind the Mercedes of George Russell, by 30 points going into the second-to-last race in Qatar this coming weekend

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

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

"Verstappen had a strong performance. I made the mistake at the beginning and was too punchy on that opening corner," stated Norris

"It's still a good result to secure second place. I've got to praise Verstappen and his team"

Following Qatar, the final race of the championship follows in Abu Dhabi on December 7th

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

• Norris maintained his momentum towards the championship losing the victory to Verstappen

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

• A superb win for Max Verstappen to maintain him in the championship battle

• Recoveries for both Ferrari drivers, following a difficult qualifying session, with Lewis Hamilton claiming a point for tenth place after starting at the back

At the start, Lando Norris was faithful to his claim that he was "not here not to take risks" as he fought hard to protect his advantage from starting first 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 point and went too deep into the corner

This enabled Verstappen to drive past into the first place while the British driver also the runner-up spot to Russell

Through two VSC periods for some early incidents, including at the start when the Racing Bulls Liam Lawson made contact with Piastri, Verstappen gradually stamped his authority on the race

George Russell made an early pit stop for the more durable compound, but Norris and Max Verstappen stayed out

The McLaren driver pitted five laps following the Mercedes driver and Max Verstappen ten laps later

Verstappen was could rejoin still in the lead, Russell having been failed to close in on the Red Bull car even with his newer rubber

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

Norris inquired his engineer how to manage the rest of his event, essentially asking whether he should accept second place or challenge for the lead

He was instructed to "go and get Verstappen" but it quickly became apparent he had little opportunity. Max Verstappen was readily able to defend against Norris' challenges, and in the final laps the gap extended substantially as the McLaren started to experience a mechanical problem which has so far remained unidentified

Even with losing almost three seconds a circuit, Lando Norris was could defend against Russell because of the extent of the advantage he had established while pursuing Max Verstappen

The Red Bull driver's sixth win of the season - only one behind the two McLaren drivers - was taken in emphatic style and keeps him in championship contention, at least mathematically, even if he needs problems for Norris in the final two events to pass him

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

"In upcoming weekends 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 began fifth but lost two positions on the first circuit following being hit by Lawson, who was soon taken out of contention by a damaged nose section

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

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

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

Asked about how he would tackle the final two races, he commented: "Just try to put myself in the optimal situation I can. I clearly need several of factors to go my way at this stage to take the title, but my only option is ensure I'm in the best position to take advantage if something happens"

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

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

The seven-time title winner executed a strong getaway, rising to 13th on the first lap and proceeded to advance positions

He got stuck in a slipstream group with a group of additional vehicles but was able to employ his electric start to salvage a point after the poorest qualifying session of his career