Lando Norris Moves Closer to Title as Verstappen Takes Vegas Grand Prix Victory

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

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

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

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

"Verstappen had a good race. I erred early on and was too punchy on that first turn," stated Norris

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

Following Qatar, the final race of the season follows in Abu Dhabi on December 7th

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

• Lando Norris maintained his progress towards the championship despite the win to Max Verstappen

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

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

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

From the beginning, 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 after an aggressive cut in front of Verstappen to head off the Verstappen's challenge on the inner line, the McLaren driver misjudged his braking zone and went too deep into the corner

This enabled Max Verstappen to drive past into the first place while the British driver also second place to Russell

Through two virtual safety cars for some early incidents, including at the start when Racing Bulls' Liam Lawson collided with Oscar Piastri, Verstappen gradually established dominance on the event

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

Norris pitted five circuits following the Mercedes and Verstappen 10

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

Lando Norris returned behind Russell from his pit stop but after a several careful circuits to let his tyres to settle, quickly reduced his three-point-three second gap to the Mercedes driver and swept by into runner-up position on lap 34

Norris asked his engineer how to manage the remainder of his event, essentially questioning whether he should accept second or challenge for the lead

He was told to "go and get Verstappen" but it quickly became apparent he had no chance. Verstappen was easily able to defend against Norris' attacks, and in the final laps the margin extended substantially as the McLaren car began to suffer a technical issue which has thus far not been defined

Even with dropping nearly three seconds a lap, Lando Norris was able to hold off Russell because of the size of the lead he had established while pursuing Max Verstappen

The Verstappen's sixth win of the season - only one less than the two McLaren teammates - was achieved in dominant fashion and maintains him in title contention, at least theoretically, although he needs problems for Norris in the final two events to overtake him

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

"In upcoming weekends we will attempt to take victory in the event and by the conclusion of Abu Dhabi we will know where we end up, but I'm very proud of everyone"

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

He followed Lawson's teammate Isack Hadjar for the opening fifteen circuits before passing him on the Strip but lost position to Charles Leclerc, who he was could repass during the pit-stop period

The Australian ended up after Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli, who ran almost the entire race on hard tyres after pitting during the initial VSC, but was awarded a five-second time penalty for a start-line infringement, which was not clearly visible on replays

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

Asked about how he would tackle the remaining events, he commented: "Just try to put myself in the best position I can. I clearly need several of factors to favor me at this stage to take the title, but all I can do is ensure I'm in the ideal situation to capitalise if circumstances change"

Leclerc held on in sixth position, insufficiently close to benefit from Antonelli's penalty, while Carlos Sainz dropped to seventh at the finish, his Williams missing the speed to compete with the leading outfits in the dry, following his heroic performance to qualify third in the wet

Isack Hadjar secured eighth place before Sauber's Nico Hulkenberg and Lewis Hamilton

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

He got stuck in a DRS train with a bunch of other cars but was able to use his strong beginning to salvage a point after the poorest qualifying performance of his racing life