Lando Norris Edges Closer to Title as Verstappen Secures Vegas Grand Prix Victory

McLaren's Lando Norris moved closer to a maiden championship with runner-up position in the Vegas race following the Red Bull of Max Verstappen

Norris currently heads teammate Oscar Piastri, who ended up in fourth place behind the Mercedes of George Russell, by thirty points going into the penultimate race in Qatar this coming weekend

Norris will win the title in the Qatar as long as he does not lose over five points to Piastri in Losail, or 17 to Verstappen

The Australian driver, so strong in the opening stages of the championship, has failed to finish on the podium for six consecutive events

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

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

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

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

• Norris maintained his progress towards the title despite the victory to Verstappen

• Piastri's difficult performance streak continued as his title hopes wane

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

• Recoveries for the two Ferrari drivers, after a tough qualifying session, with Lewis Hamilton securing a single point for tenth place following beginning at the back

At the start, Lando Norris was faithful to his statement that he was "not here not to take risks" as he battled aggressively to defend his advantage from starting first from Max Verstappen

However following an aggressive cut in front of the Red Bull driver to head off the Dutchman's attack on the inside, Norris miscalculated his braking point and ran deep into the corner

This allowed Verstappen to overtake into the first place while the British driver also the runner-up spot to George Russell

During two virtual safety cars for some early incidents, featuring at the beginning when Racing Bulls' Liam Lawson made contact with Piastri, Max Verstappen gradually established dominance on the race

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

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

Verstappen was could rejoin still in the first place, Russell having been failed to catch up on the Red Bull despite his newer rubber

Lando Norris returned behind George Russell from his pit stop but after a few cautious laps to let his tyres to warm up, quickly closed his three-point-three second deficit to the Mercedes driver and swept by into runner-up position on lap 34

Norris asked his engineer how to run the remainder of his event, essentially asking whether he should accept second or attack

He was told to "chase down Max" but it quickly became apparent he had little opportunity. Max Verstappen was readily able to defend against Norris' attacks, and in the final laps the margin increased significantly as the McLaren began to suffer a technical issue 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 advantage he had built while chasing Max Verstappen

The Red Bull driver's sixth victory of the season - only one less than both McLaren drivers - was taken in dominant fashion and maintains him in title contention, at minimum mathematically, although he needs issues for Lando Norris in the final two events to overtake him

"It's still a significant margin, we always try to maximise all we've got," Verstappen said

"During the coming events we will attempt 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"

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

He trailed Liam Lawson's team-mate Isack Hadjar for the opening fifteen circuits before overtaking him on the Las Vegas Strip but lost position to Leclerc, who he was could repass during the tire change phase

Piastri finished after the Mercedes of Kimi Antonelli, who ran nearly the whole event on the durable compound following pitting during the initial VSC, but was awarded a five-second penalty for a starting procedure infringement, which was not immediately obvious on replays

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

Asked about how he would approach the final two races, he said: "Simply attempt to position myself in the best position I can. I clearly need several of factors to go my way now to take the title, but all I can do is make myself in the best position to capitalise if something happens"

Charles Leclerc held on in sixth position, not close enough to gain from Kimi Antonelli's 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, following his impressive showing to start in third in the wet

Hadjar secured eighth place ahead of Sauber's Nico Hulkenberg and Hamilton

The seven-time title winner executed a strong getaway, rising to thirteenth on the opening circuit and continued to move forwards

He became trapped in a slipstream group with a group of other cars but was could use his strong beginning to salvage a point after the worst qualifying session of his career