Lando Norris Edges Closer to Championship as Max Verstappen Takes Las Vegas Grand Prix Victory

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

The British driver currently heads 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

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

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

"Verstappen had a good race. I made the mistake early on and was overly aggressive on that opening corner," stated Norris

"It remains a good result to secure second. I've got to congratulate Verstappen and his team"

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

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

• Norris continued his momentum towards the title losing the victory to Verstappen

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

• A excellent win for Max Verstappen to keep him in the title fight

• Fightbacks for the two Ferrari drivers, following a difficult qualifying, with Lewis Hamilton claiming a single point for 10th following beginning at the rear

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

But following an forceful cut in front of Verstappen to block the Dutchman's attack on the inside, Norris misjudged his braking zone and ran deep into the corner

This enabled Verstappen to overtake into the lead while Norris also second place to Russell

Through two virtual safety cars for several opening-lap incidents, featuring at the start when Racing Bulls' Liam Lawson collided with Oscar Piastri, Verstappen slowly established dominance on the event

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

The McLaren driver pitted five circuits after the Mercedes driver and Max Verstappen 10

Verstappen was able to rejoin still in the first place, George Russell having been unable to catch up on the Red Bull car despite his fresher tyres

Norris rejoined behind George Russell from his pit stop but after a several careful circuits to allow his tyres to warm up, soon closed his three-point-three second gap to the Mercedes driver and overtook into second place on the thirty-fourth lap

The British driver asked his race engineer how to manage the remainder of his event, effectively asking whether he should settle for second place or attack

He was instructed to "go and get Verstappen" but it quickly became apparent he had no chance. Max Verstappen was readily able to defend against Norris' attacks, and in the closing stages the margin increased significantly as the McLaren car began to experience a mechanical problem which has so far remained unidentified

Despite dropping almost three seconds a lap, Norris was could hold off George Russell because of the extent of the lead he had built while chasing Max Verstappen

The Verstappen's sixth win of the season - just one behind both McLaren drivers - was achieved in dominant fashion and maintains him in championship contention, at least theoretically, even if he needs problems for Norris in the final two events to pass him

"It remains a big gap, we always try to maximise all we've got," Max Verstappen said

"In upcoming weekends we will attempt to take victory in the event and at the end 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 soon eliminated of contention by a broken nose section

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

The Australian ended up behind Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli, who competed almost the entire race on hard tyres after stopping during the first virtual safety car, but was given a five second penalty for a starting procedure infringement, which was not immediately obvious on replays

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

Asked about how he would tackle the remaining events, he said: "Just try to put myself in the best position I can. I clearly require quite a lot of factors to go my way now to win, but my only option is make myself in the best position to capitalise if something happens"

Leclerc hung on in sixth position, insufficiently close to benefit from Antonelli's penalty, while Carlos Sainz fell to seventh at the flag, his Williams car missing the pace to compete with the top teams in the dry, following his heroic showing to qualify third in the wet

Hadjar took eighth place ahead of the Sauber of Nico Hulkenberg and Hamilton

The seven-time title winner executed a flying start, rising to thirteenth on the opening circuit and proceeded to move forwards

He became trapped in a slipstream group with a group of additional vehicles but was could employ his strong beginning to salvage a championship point following the poorest qualifying session of his racing life