Norris Edges Closer to Title as Verstappen Claims Vegas Grand Prix Victory

The McLaren Lando Norris stepped nearer to a maiden championship with runner-up position in the Vegas race following Red Bull's Max Verstappen

The British driver currently heads fellow McLaren driver Oscar Piastri, who ended up fourth after Mercedes' George Russell, by thirty points heading to the second-to-last race in Qatar next weekend

The Briton will claim the championship in the Qatar as long as he does not lose more than five points to Piastri in Losail, or seventeen to Verstappen

Piastri, so strong in the opening stages of the season, has failed to finish on the top three for six races

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

"It's still a positive outcome to secure second place. I've got to congratulate Verstappen and his team"

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

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

• Norris maintained his momentum towards the title losing the win to Max Verstappen

• Oscar Piastri's challenging performance streak continued as his championship chances wane

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

• Recoveries for the two Ferrari drivers, after a tough qualifying session, with Lewis Hamilton claiming a point for 10th following beginning at the back

From the beginning, 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 pole position from Max Verstappen

But following an aggressive move in front of Verstappen to block the Dutchman's attack on the inside, the McLaren driver miscalculated his braking point and went too deep into the corner

That allowed Max Verstappen to overtake into the lead while Norris also second place to George Russell

During two VSC periods for several opening-lap incidents, including at the start when the Racing Bulls Liam Lawson collided with Oscar Piastri, Verstappen gradually stamped his authority on the event

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

The McLaren driver stopped five laps after the Mercedes driver and Verstappen ten laps later

Verstappen was could rejoin still in the lead, George Russell having been unable to catch up on the Red Bull car even with his fresher tyres

Norris returned after Russell from his stop but following a several careful circuits to let his tires to warm up, quickly reduced his 3.3-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 rest of his event, essentially questioning whether he should accept second or challenge for the lead

He was instructed to "chase down Max" but it soon became clear he had no chance. Verstappen was readily able to repel Lando's attacks, and in the closing stages the margin extended substantially as the McLaren car started to experience a technical issue which has so far not been defined

Even with dropping nearly three seconds a lap, Norris was could defend against Russell because of the extent of the advantage he had established while pursuing Max Verstappen

The Verstappen's sixth victory of the championship - only one behind both McLaren drivers - was achieved in dominant fashion and keeps him in championship contention, at minimum theoretically, even if he requires problems for Norris in the final two events to pass him

"It's still a big gap, we consistently attempt to optimize everything we've have," Verstappen said

"During the coming events we will try to win the event and at the end of Abu Dhabi we will know where we finish, but I'm extremely pleased of everyone"

Oscar Piastri started fifth but lost two places on the first circuit after being hit by Lawson, who was quickly taken out of contention by a damaged nose section

He trailed Liam Lawson's teammate Isack Hadjar for the first 15 laps before passing him on the Strip but also position to Charles Leclerc, who he was could overtake again during the tire change phase

Piastri ended up after the Mercedes of Kimi Antonelli, who competed almost the whole event on hard tyres after stopping during the initial VSC, but was given a five second time penalty for a start-line violation, which was not immediately obvious on replays

"It was a frustrating race from pretty much start to finish in some ways," Oscar Piastri informed BBC Radio 5 Live

Questioned about how he would approach the final two races, he said: "Just attempt to position myself in the optimal situation I can. I clearly need quite a lot of things to go my way at this stage to win, but my only option is ensure I'm in the best position to capitalise if circumstances change"

Leclerc held on in sixth position, insufficiently close to benefit from Kimi Antonelli's penalty, while Sainz dropped to seventh at the flag, his Williams lacking the pace to challenge with the top teams in the dry, after his heroic performance to qualify third in the wet weather

Hadjar secured eighth before the Sauber of Nico Hulkenberg and Hamilton

The seven-time title winner executed a flying start, up to thirteenth on the first lap and continued to advance positions

He got stuck in a slipstream group with a bunch of additional vehicles but was able to use his electric start to salvage a point following the poorest qualifying session of his racing life