Max Verstappen wins Las Vegas Grand Prix as Norris extends title lead

Max Verstappen stormed to victory at the Las Vegas Grand Prix after seizing the lead at the very start and never letting it go, keeping his faint title hopes alive with two races remaining. The Dutchman launched past pole sitter Lando Norris when the McLaren man ran wide at Turn 1 and from there delivered a near faultless drive.

Behind him, Norris salvaged second despite late fuel concerns and tyre wear while George Russell nursed a steering issue to secure third.

Norris Extends His Championship Lead

Norris arrived in Nevada with a 24 point cushion over team mate Oscar Piastri and although he could not convert pole into victory, his second place finish proved crucial. Piastri endured another difficult evening despite climbing to fourth thanks to Kimi Antonelli’s time penalty. The Australian now trails Norris by 30 points with Qatar and Abu Dhabi left to run.

Norris’ early mistake cost him the lead and dropped him behind Russell but he regrouped, passed the Mercedes cleanly and attempted to chase down Verstappen. The charge faltered when tyre management and fuel saving became the priority, yet he still banked important points.

Russell Resilient as Mercedes Dig Deep

Russell enjoyed another strong night in Las Vegas a year on from his win at the same venue. Despite reporting the same steering gremlins that hampered his qualifying session, he held off challenges from both McLarens early on and later clung to the podium as Antonelli played rear gunner with a remarkably composed long stint.

Mercedes had not expected to match last season’s form after shifting development priorities but both drivers showed competitive pace in the cool conditions. Antonelli’s display was among the standout drives of the evening, the teenager finishing fifth on the road and sixth after his five second false start penalty.

Ferrari’s Hopes Fade

Ferrari arrived believing Las Vegas could offer a rare win but the weekend unravelled quickly. Lewis Hamilton qualified last after an error in Q1 and Charles Leclerc could only manage ninth on the grid. Leclerc fought through to sixth yet never looked like challenging the leaders and Hamilton recovered to tenth after an eventful opening phase.

Carlos Sainz delivered the points Ferrari could not, finishing seventh for Williams after a clean, controlled drive.

Midfield Battles Light Up the Strip

Isack Hadjar impressed again for Racing Bulls with an eighth place finish and team mate Liam Lawson looked set for more before early front wing damage ruined his race. Nico Hulkenberg and Hamilton rounded out the top ten while Esteban Ocon narrowly missed out after an extended early stint on mediums.

Further back, incidents shaped much of the midfield running. Stroll and Bortoleto retired after first lap contact, Albon collected Hamilton and later retired following another troubled outing, and multiple drivers struggled with graining on the medium compound.

A Controlled Cruise to the Chequered Flag

By the closing laps Verstappen had a comfortable advantage as Norris faded while managing fuel. The Red Bull sliced through traffic with ease and crossed the line more than 20 seconds clear, celebrating wildly with his team afterwards.

The spectacle continued off track as the top three were ferried to the podium in a bright pink Lego Cadillac driven by Terry Crews, fireworks lighting the desert sky.

Looking Ahead

Verstappen’s win trims Norris’ lead but the McLaren driver remains firmly in control with 30 points in hand over Piastri and 42 points ahead of Verstappen. The championship cannot be settled in Qatar unless results swing dramatically yet momentum continues to ebb between the McLaren pair.

With two rounds left, Vegas may have offered drama but the title picture remains unchanged: Norris still has one hand on the trophy, even after letting victory slip in the city of risk.