Norris Advances Closer to Championship as Verstappen Claims Las Vegas F1 Race Victory

The McLaren Lando Norris stepped nearer to a maiden world title with runner-up position in the Vegas race behind the Red Bull of Max Verstappen

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

The Briton will secure the championship in the desert as long as he doesn't surrender over five points to Piastri in Losail, or seventeen to Verstappen

Piastri, so strong in the first half of the season, has not finished on the podium for six consecutive events

"Max had a strong performance. I made the mistake early on and was too punchy on that first turn," said Norris

"It's still a good result to get second. I've got to congratulate Max and Red Bull"

After Qatar, the final race of the championship takes place in Abu Dhabi on 7 December

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

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

• Oscar Piastri's difficult run of form continued as his championship chances wane

• A excellent victory for Max Verstappen to maintain him in the championship battle

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

From the beginning, Norris was true to his claim that he was "not here not to take risks" as he fought hard to defend his advantage from pole position from Verstappen

However following an aggressive cut in front of Verstappen to head off the Verstappen's challenge on the inside, the McLaren driver miscalculated his braking point and ran deep into the corner

This allowed Max Verstappen to drive past into the lead while the British driver lost the runner-up spot to George Russell

Through two VSC periods for several opening-lap incidents, including at the beginning when Racing Bulls' Liam Lawson made contact with Piastri, Max Verstappen slowly established dominance on the race

George Russell undertook an early pit stop for the hard tyres, but Norris and Max Verstappen stayed out

Norris pitted five circuits following the Mercedes driver and Max Verstappen 10

The Red Bull driver was able to return still in the lead, Russell having been failed to catch up on the Red Bull car even with his fresher tyres

Norris rejoined after George Russell from his pit stop but following a few cautious laps to allow his tires to warm up, quickly closed his three-point-three second deficit to the Mercedes driver and swept by into runner-up position on the thirty-fourth lap

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

He was instructed to "go and get Verstappen" but it soon became clear he had no chance. Max Verstappen was easily could repel Norris' attacks, and in the final laps the gap extended substantially as the McLaren car began to suffer a technical issue which has thus far remained unidentified

Even with dropping almost three seconds a circuit, Norris was could hold off Russell because of the size of the lead he had built while pursuing Verstappen

The Verstappen's sixth victory of the championship - only one less than both McLaren teammates - was taken in emphatic style and maintains him in championship contention, at least theoretically, even if he needs problems for Lando Norris in the final two events to pass him

"It's still a significant margin, we consistently attempt to optimize everything we've have," Max Verstappen said

"During the coming events we will attempt to take victory in the race and by the conclusion of Abu Dhabi we will see where we end up, but I'm very proud of everyone"

Piastri started fifth but dropped two positions on the first circuit following being clouted by Liam Lawson, who was quickly eliminated of the battle by a damaged front wing

He trailed Lawson's teammate Isack Hadjar for the first 15 laps before passing him on the Las Vegas Strip but lost position to Leclerc, who he was able to repass during the pit-stop period

The Australian ended up behind Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli, who ran almost the whole event on the durable compound after pitting during the initial VSC, but was given a five second time penalty for a starting procedure violation, which was not clearly visible on video reviews

"It was a frustrating event from pretty much beginning to end in certain respects," Piastri informed race broadcasters

Asked about how he would tackle the remaining events, he commented: "Just try to put myself in the best position I can. I obviously require quite a lot of factors to favor me now to take the title, but my only option is make myself in the ideal situation to capitalise if circumstances change"

Leclerc hung on in sixth place, insufficiently close to benefit from Antonelli's penalty, while Carlos Sainz fell to seventh place at the flag, his Williams lacking the speed to compete with the leading outfits in the dry conditions, following his impressive showing to start third in the wet weather

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

The seven-time champion made a flying start, rising to 13th on the first lap and proceeded to advance positions

He became trapped in a DRS train with a group of other cars but was able to use his strong beginning to rescue a point after the poorest qualifying performance of his racing life