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

McLaren's Lando Norris moved closer to a maiden world title with second place in the Vegas race following the Red Bull of Max Verstappen

The British driver currently heads teammate Oscar Piastri, who ended up in fourth place behind the Mercedes of George Russell, by 30 points going into the penultimate race in Qatar next weekend

Norris will win the championship in the Qatar as long as he doesn't surrender more than five points to Piastri in Losail, or 17 to Verstappen

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

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

"It remains a positive outcome to get second. I've got to praise Verstappen and Red Bull"

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

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

• Norris maintained his momentum towards the championship losing the victory to Verstappen

• Piastri's difficult performance streak continued as his title hopes wane

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

• Fightbacks for the two Ferrari drivers, after a tough qualifying, with Lewis Hamilton securing a single point for 10th following starting at the back

At the start, Norris was true to his claim that he was "not present to avoid risks" as he fought hard to protect his lead from pole position from Max Verstappen

However after an aggressive move in front of the Red Bull driver to block the Dutchman's challenge on the inner line, Norris misjudged his braking point and ran deep into the turn

This allowed Max Verstappen to overtake into the lead while the British driver also second place to George Russell

During two virtual safety cars for several opening-lap incidents, including at the start when Racing Bulls' Liam Lawson collided with Piastri, Verstappen gradually stamped his authority on the race

Russell made an early pit stop for the more durable compound, but Lando Norris and Verstappen remained on track

The McLaren driver stopped five circuits after the Mercedes driver and Verstappen ten laps later

Verstappen was could return still in the first place, George Russell having been failed to catch up on the Red Bull car even with his newer rubber

Norris rejoined after Russell from his stop but following a several careful circuits to allow his tyres to warm up, soon closed his three-point-three second deficit to the Mercedes and overtook into second place on lap 34

Norris asked his engineer how to run the remainder of his event, effectively asking whether he should accept second place or challenge for the lead

He was told to "go and get Max" but it soon became clear he had little opportunity. Verstappen was easily able to repel Lando's attacks, and in the closing stages the gap extended significantly as the McLaren started to experience a mechanical problem which has thus far remained unidentified

Even with dropping nearly three seconds a circuit, Norris was able to hold off Russell because of the size of the advantage he had established while chasing Max Verstappen

The Verstappen's sixth win of the season - just one less than the two McLaren drivers - was achieved in emphatic style and keeps him in championship contention, at least mathematically, although he needs issues for Norris in the final two events to pass him

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

"During the coming events we will try 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 fifth but dropped two places on the opening lap after being clouted by Lawson, who was quickly eliminated of contention by a broken nose section

He trailed Lawson's team-mate Isack Hadjar for the opening fifteen circuits before overtaking him on the Strip but also position to Charles Leclerc, who he was could overtake again during the tire change phase

Piastri finished behind the Mercedes of Kimi Antonelli, who ran almost the whole event on the durable compound following pitting during the first virtual safety car, but was awarded a five second time penalty for a starting procedure infringement, which was not immediately obvious on replays

"It proved to be a frustrating race from essentially beginning to end in certain respects," Piastri informed race broadcasters

Asked about how he would approach the remaining events, he said: "Just try to position myself in the optimal situation I can. I obviously require quite a lot of things to go my way now to win, but my only option is ensure I'm in the best position to capitalise if circumstances change"

Leclerc held on in sixth position, not close enough to gain from Kimi Antonelli's penalty, while Carlos Sainz dropped to seventh place at the flag, his Williams car lacking the pace to challenge with the leading outfits in the dry conditions, after his heroic performance to qualify third in the wet

Hadjar took eighth place ahead of Sauber's Nico Hulkenberg and Lewis Hamilton

The seven-time title winner executed a strong getaway, rising to thirteenth on the first lap and proceeded to move forwards

He got stuck in a DRS train with a group of other cars but was could use his electric start to salvage a point after the poorest qualifying performance of his career