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

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

Norris currently heads fellow McLaren driver Oscar Piastri, who ended up fourth behind the Mercedes of George Russell, by thirty points heading to the penultimate race in Qatar this coming weekend

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

The Australian driver, so strong in the first half of the season, has failed to finish on the top three for six consecutive events

"Verstappen had a strong performance. I erred at the beginning and was overly aggressive on that first turn," said Norris

"It remains a good result to secure second place. I've got to congratulate Max and his team"

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

The key stories of one of Formula 1's most prestigious races included:

• Norris continued his progress towards the title despite the victory to Max Verstappen

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

• A excellent victory for Max Verstappen to keep him in the title fight

• Recoveries for the two Ferrari drivers, following a tough qualifying session, with Lewis Hamilton securing a single point for 10th after starting at the rear

At the start, Lando Norris was faithful to his claim that he was "not present to avoid risks" as he battled aggressively to protect his advantage from starting first from Verstappen

But after an forceful cut in front of the Red Bull driver to block the Verstappen's attack on the inside, the McLaren driver miscalculated his braking zone and ran deep into the corner

That enabled Max Verstappen to overtake into the first place while Norris also the runner-up spot to George Russell

Through two VSC periods for several opening-lap 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

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

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

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

Lando Norris returned behind Russell from his stop but following a few cautious laps to allow his tires to settle, quickly closed his three-point-three second gap to the Mercedes and overtook into runner-up position on lap 34

The British driver inquired his engineer how to manage the remainder of his race, effectively asking whether he should accept second or challenge for the lead

He was told to "chase down Max" but it quickly became apparent he had little opportunity. Verstappen was readily could defend against Norris' attacks, and in the closing stages the gap extended significantly as the McLaren began to experience a technical issue which has so far remained unidentified

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

The Red Bull driver's sixth win of the championship - only one behind both McLaren drivers - was achieved in emphatic style and keeps him in championship contention, at minimum mathematically, even if he needs problems for Lando Norris in both remaining races to pass him

"It remains a significant margin, we always try to optimize all we've got," Max Verstappen said

"In upcoming weekends we will try to win the event and by the conclusion of Abu Dhabi we will know where we finish, but I'm very proud of the entire team"

Oscar Piastri started fifth but dropped two positions on the opening lap following being hit by Liam Lawson, who was quickly eliminated of the battle by a damaged front wing

He followed Lawson's team-mate Isack Hadjar for the opening fifteen circuits before passing him on the Strip but also position to Charles Leclerc, who he was could repass during the tire change phase

The Australian ended up after the Mercedes of Kimi Antonelli, who ran nearly the whole event on hard tyres after stopping during the initial VSC, but was awarded a five second penalty for a starting procedure violation, which was not clearly visible on replays

"It proved to be a frustrating event from essentially start to finish in some ways," Oscar Piastri informed race broadcasters

Questioned about how he would tackle the remaining events, he said: "Just try to put myself in the optimal situation I can. I clearly need several of factors to favor me now to take the title, but all I can do is make myself in the ideal situation to take advantage if circumstances change"

Leclerc hung on in sixth position, insufficiently close to gain from Kimi Antonelli's time penalty, while Carlos Sainz fell to seventh place at the finish, his Williams lacking the pace to compete with the top teams in the dry conditions, after his heroic performance to start in third in the wet

Hadjar took eighth ahead of Sauber's Nico Hulkenberg and Lewis Hamilton

The seven-time title winner made a flying start, up to 13th on the opening circuit and proceeded to advance positions

He became trapped in a slipstream group with a group of additional vehicles but was could employ his strong beginning to rescue a point after the poorest qualifying performance of his racing life