Lando Norris Advances Closer to Championship as Max Verstappen Takes Vegas Grand Prix Win

McLaren's Lando Norris moved nearer to his first world title with runner-up position in the Vegas race behind Red Bull's Max Verstappen

Norris now leads fellow McLaren driver Oscar Piastri, who finished in fourth place after the Mercedes of George Russell, by 30 points going into the second-to-last race in Qatar this coming weekend

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

Piastri, so impressive in the opening stages of the championship, has failed to finish on the podium for six races

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

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

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

The key stories of among Formula 1's most prestigious races were:

• Norris continued his momentum towards the championship losing the win to Max Verstappen

• Oscar Piastri's difficult run of form continued as his title hopes diminish

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

• Recoveries for both Ferrari drivers, after a difficult qualifying, with Lewis Hamilton claiming a point for 10th following starting at the rear

From the beginning, Lando Norris was true to his statement that he was "not here to avoid risks" as he battled aggressively to protect his lead from starting first from Max Verstappen

But after an forceful move in front of Verstappen to block the Verstappen's attack on the inner line, the McLaren driver misjudged his braking zone and went too deep into the corner

This enabled Verstappen to drive past into the first place while the British driver also the runner-up spot to Russell

Through two virtual safety cars for some early incidents, featuring at the beginning when the Racing Bulls Liam Lawson made contact with Piastri, Max Verstappen slowly established dominance on the event

George Russell undertook an early pit stop for the more durable compound, but Norris and Max Verstappen remained on track

Norris stopped five laps after the Mercedes driver and Max Verstappen ten laps later

Verstappen was could rejoin still in the lead, George Russell having been failed to catch up on the Red Bull even with his newer rubber

Norris rejoined after George Russell from his pit stop but following a several careful circuits to allow his tyres to settle, soon reduced his three-point-three second gap to the Mercedes and swept by into second place on the thirty-fourth lap

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

He was instructed to "go and get Verstappen" but it soon became clear he had little opportunity. Verstappen was readily able to defend against Norris' challenges, and in the final laps the margin extended substantially as the McLaren started to experience a technical issue which has so far remained unidentified

Even with losing almost three seconds a circuit, Norris was able to defend against Russell because of the extent of the lead he had established while chasing Verstappen

The Verstappen's sixth win of the season - just one behind the two McLaren teammates - was taken in emphatic style and maintains him in title contention, at least theoretically, even if he requires issues for Norris in the final two events to overtake him

"It remains a significant margin, we always try to maximise all we've have," Verstappen said

"During the coming events we will try to win the race and by the conclusion of Abu Dhabi we will see where we end up, but I'm extremely pleased of everyone"

Oscar Piastri started fifth but lost two positions on the first circuit following being hit by Liam Lawson, who was quickly taken out of contention by a broken nose section

He trailed Liam Lawson's teammate Isack Hadjar for the opening fifteen circuits before overtaking him on the Strip but lost out to Charles Leclerc, who he was could repass during the tire change phase

The Australian finished behind Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli, who competed almost the whole event on hard tyres following pitting during the first virtual safety car, but was awarded a five-second penalty for a start-line infringement, which was not clearly visible on replays

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

Asked about how he would tackle the final two races, he commented: "Just attempt to position myself in the best position I can. I clearly require several of factors to favor me at this stage to win, but all I can do is make myself in the ideal situation to take advantage if something happens"

Leclerc hung on in sixth position, insufficiently close to gain from Antonelli's penalty, while Sainz fell to seventh place at the flag, his Williams car lacking the speed to challenge with the top teams in the dry conditions, after his heroic showing to qualify third in the wet

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

The seven-time title winner made a strong getaway, up to 13th on the opening circuit and proceeded to move forwards

He got stuck in a DRS train with a bunch of other cars but was could employ his strong beginning to salvage a point following the worst qualifying performance of his racing life