Lando Norris Edges Closer to Championship as Verstappen Claims Las Vegas Grand Prix Win

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

Norris now leads fellow McLaren driver Oscar Piastri, who finished in fourth place behind Mercedes' George Russell, by thirty points heading to the penultimate race in Qatar this coming weekend

Norris will claim the championship in the Qatar as long as he does not lose 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 not finished on the top three for six races

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

"It's still a positive outcome to secure second place. I've got to praise Verstappen and Red Bull"

After 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 were:

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

• Piastri's difficult run of form continued as his championship chances diminish

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

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

At the start, Norris was faithful to his statement that he was "not here not to take risks" as he battled aggressively to protect his lead from pole position from Max Verstappen

However after an aggressive cut in front of the Red Bull driver to head off the Verstappen's challenge on the inside, Norris misjudged his braking zone and ran deep into the turn

That allowed Verstappen to drive past into the lead while Norris also the runner-up spot to Russell

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

Russell undertook an early tire change for the more durable compound, but Norris and Max Verstappen stayed out

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

The Red Bull driver was able to rejoin still in the first place, George Russell having been unable to close in on the Red Bull car even with his newer rubber

Lando Norris returned after Russell from his stop but following a few cautious laps to let his tyres to settle, quickly closed his three-point-three second deficit to the Mercedes and swept by into runner-up position on the thirty-fourth lap

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

He was instructed to "chase down Verstappen" but it quickly became apparent he had no chance. Verstappen was readily able to defend against Norris' challenges, and in the final laps the margin increased significantly as the McLaren started to experience a technical issue which has thus far not been defined

Even with losing almost three seconds a circuit, Norris was could defend against George Russell because of the size of the lead he had built while chasing Verstappen

The Verstappen's sixth victory of the season - only one less than both McLaren drivers - was taken in dominant fashion and keeps him in title contention, at minimum mathematically, even if he needs problems for Lando Norris in both remaining races to overtake him

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

"In upcoming weekends we will try to win the race and at the end of Abu Dhabi we will see where we end up, but I'm very proud of everyone"

Piastri started in fifth but lost two positions on the opening lap after being hit by Liam Lawson, who was quickly taken out of contention by a damaged front wing

He trailed Lawson's teammate Isack Hadjar for the first 15 laps before overtaking him on the Strip but lost out to Leclerc, who he was able to overtake again during the pit-stop period

Piastri ended up after Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli, who ran almost the whole event on the durable compound after pitting during the initial VSC, but was given a five second penalty for a starting procedure violation, which was not immediately obvious on video reviews

"It proved to be a disappointing race from pretty much beginning to end in some ways," Piastri told BBC Radio 5 Live

Questioned about how he would approach the remaining events, he commented: "Simply attempt to position myself in the best position I can. I obviously require several of factors to favor me now to win, but my only option is make myself in the best position to capitalise if circumstances change"

Charles Leclerc hung on in sixth position, insufficiently close to benefit from Kimi Antonelli's penalty, while Sainz fell to seventh place at the flag, his Williams lacking the pace to challenge with the leading outfits in the dry, after his impressive showing to qualify in third in the wet weather

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

The seven-time champion executed a strong getaway, up to thirteenth on the opening circuit and continued to move forwards

He got stuck in a DRS train with a group of other cars but was could employ his strong beginning to salvage a point after the poorest qualifying performance of his career