Lando Norris Edges Nearer to Title as Max Verstappen Secures Vegas F1 Race Victory

McLaren's Lando Norris moved nearer to his first world title with second place in the Vegas race behind the Red Bull of Max Verstappen

Norris currently heads fellow McLaren driver Oscar Piastri, who ended up in fourth place after the Mercedes of George Russell, by 30 points heading to the penultimate 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 strong in the first half of the championship, has not finished on the top three for six races

"Max had a strong performance. I erred early on and was overly aggressive on that opening corner," stated Norris

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

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

The key stories of one of Formula 1's most high-profile races were:

• Norris maintained his progress towards the title losing the win to Verstappen

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

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

• Fightbacks for the two Ferrari drivers, following a difficult qualifying session, with Lewis Hamilton claiming a point for tenth place after starting at the rear

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

But after an aggressive cut in front of the Red Bull driver to head off the Verstappen's challenge on the inside, the McLaren driver miscalculated his braking zone and went too deep into the turn

That allowed Max Verstappen to drive past into the lead while the British driver also second place to Russell

During two VSC periods for some early incidents, featuring at the beginning when Racing Bulls' Liam Lawson collided with Piastri, Verstappen gradually established dominance on the race

George Russell made an early tire change for the hard tyres, but Norris and Max Verstappen remained on track

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

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

Lando Norris rejoined behind George Russell from his stop but after a several careful circuits to allow his tires to warm up, soon closed his 3.3-second deficit to the Mercedes and overtook into second place on the thirty-fourth lap

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

He was told to "go and get Max" but it quickly became apparent he had no chance. Verstappen was readily could defend against Lando's attacks, and in the closing stages the margin increased substantially as the McLaren began to experience a mechanical problem which has thus far not been defined

Even with losing almost three seconds a circuit, Lando Norris was could hold off Russell because of the extent of the advantage he had established while pursuing Max Verstappen

The Verstappen's sixth win of the season - only one behind both McLaren teammates - was taken in dominant fashion and maintains him in title contention, at least theoretically, although he needs issues for Norris in the final two events to pass him

"It remains a big gap, we consistently attempt to optimize all we've got," Max Verstappen said

"In upcoming weekends we will try to win the event and by the conclusion of Abu Dhabi we will see where we finish, but I'm very proud of the entire team"

Oscar Piastri started fifth but lost two places on the opening lap after being hit by Lawson, who was soon eliminated of contention by a broken nose section

He trailed Lawson's teammate Isack Hadjar for the first 15 laps before overtaking him on the Las Vegas Strip but also position to Leclerc, who he was could overtake again during the tire change phase

The Australian ended up behind Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli, who competed almost the entire race on hard tyres after pitting during the initial VSC, but was awarded a five second penalty for a start-line violation, which was not immediately obvious on replays

"It proved to be a frustrating race from pretty much beginning to end in some ways," Piastri informed race broadcasters

Asked about how he would tackle the remaining events, he commented: "Just attempt to put myself in the best position I can. I obviously need 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"

Charles Leclerc held on in sixth position, not close enough to gain from Antonelli's time penalty, while Carlos Sainz fell to seventh place at the finish, his Williams missing the speed to compete with the top teams in the dry conditions, following his heroic performance to start in third in the wet weather

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

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

He got stuck in a DRS train with a group of additional vehicles but was able to employ his strong beginning to salvage a championship point following the poorest qualifying performance of his racing life