Norris Moves Closer to Title as Max Verstappen Takes Vegas Grand Prix Win

McLaren's Lando Norris stepped closer to his first championship with runner-up position in the Las Vegas Grand Prix behind Red Bull's Max Verstappen

Norris currently heads teammate Oscar Piastri, who ended up fourth after Mercedes' George Russell, by 30 points heading to the penultimate race in Qatar this coming weekend

Norris will win the championship in the desert as long as he doesn't surrender more than five points to Piastri in Losail, or 17 to Verstappen

Piastri, so strong in the first half of the championship, has failed to finish on the podium for six races

"Verstappen had a good race. I made the mistake at the beginning and was too punchy on that first turn," said Norris

"It remains a positive outcome to secure second. I've got to congratulate Max and Red Bull"

Following Qatar, the last event of the season follows in Abu Dhabi on 7 December

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

• Norris continued his progress towards the championship losing the victory to Verstappen

• Piastri's difficult performance streak persisted as his championship chances wane

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

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

From the beginning, Lando Norris was true to his claim that he was "not present not to take risks" as he battled aggressively to defend his lead from starting first from Verstappen

However following an forceful move in front of Verstappen to head off the Dutchman's challenge on the inner line, the McLaren driver misjudged his braking point and went too deep into the turn

This enabled Max Verstappen to overtake into the lead while the British driver also second place to George Russell

Through two VSC periods for some early incidents, including at the beginning when the Racing Bulls Liam Lawson collided with Piastri, Verstappen gradually established dominance on the event

George Russell made an early tire change for the more durable compound, but Lando Norris and Verstappen remained on track

Norris pitted five circuits after the Mercedes and Verstappen 10

Verstappen was could return still in the lead, Russell having been failed to close in on the Red Bull despite his newer rubber

Norris rejoined after Russell from his stop but following a several careful circuits to allow his tyres to warm up, quickly reduced his 3.3-second gap to the Mercedes and swept by into second place on the thirty-fourth lap

Norris asked his race engineer how to run the remainder of his event, essentially questioning whether he should settle for second or attack

He was instructed to "chase down Verstappen" but it soon became clear he had no chance. Max Verstappen was easily able to repel Norris' challenges, and in the final laps the margin extended substantially as the McLaren began to experience a mechanical problem which has so far remained unidentified

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

The Red Bull driver's sixth victory of the season - only one less than the two McLaren teammates - was taken 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's still a significant margin, we always try to maximise everything we've got," Max Verstappen said

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

Piastri began fifth but dropped two places on the opening lap following being clouted by Lawson, who was quickly taken out of contention by a broken front wing

He followed Lawson's team-mate Isack Hadjar for the first 15 laps before passing him on the Strip but lost position to Charles Leclerc, who he was able to overtake again during the tire change phase

Piastri ended up behind the Mercedes of Kimi Antonelli, who competed almost the entire race on hard tyres following pitting during the first virtual safety car, but was given a five second time penalty for a start-line violation, which was not clearly visible on replays

"It proved to be a frustrating event from essentially beginning to end in certain respects," Piastri informed race broadcasters

Questioned about how he would approach the remaining events, he commented: "Simply try to put myself in the optimal situation I can. I clearly require several of things to go my way at this stage to win, but all I can do is ensure I'm in the ideal situation to capitalise if circumstances change"

Leclerc held on in sixth position, not close enough to gain from Antonelli's penalty, while Sainz dropped to seventh at the flag, his Williams car lacking the pace to compete with the leading outfits in the dry conditions, after his impressive performance to qualify third in the wet weather

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

The seven-time title winner executed a flying start, rising to thirteenth on the first lap and proceeded to move forwards

He became trapped in a slipstream group with a group of additional vehicles but was able to use his strong beginning to rescue a championship point following the worst qualifying performance of his racing life