Lando Norris close to world title after second place in Las Vegas

Max Verstappen won the Las Vegas Grand Prix and reduced the gap to Lando Norris to 42 points in the championship, but the McLaren leader remains in a privileged position to secure his first Formula 1 World Championship title.

Norris's mistake at the first corner defined the race outcome. His excessive braking caused a momentary loss of control of the MCL39, allowing Verstappen to take a lead he would not relinquish over the 50 laps on the Nevada circuit.

Verstappen managed the race authoritatively from the front, resisting early challenges from George Russell and subsequently building a sufficient gap to manage the pace until the checkered flag. The 25 points scored keep his mathematical chances alive, although the probabilities continue to favor the British driver.

Photo By Red Bull Content Pool

Norris needs only 18 additional points to be crowned champion. In the worst possible scenario —consecutive wins for Verstappen in Qatar and Abu Dhabi— it would be enough for him to finish fifth in both races to secure McLaren's first world title since Lewis Hamilton in 2008.

Norris's Defensive Management

The Briton regained second place by passing Russell on lap 34, completing a measured comeback that prioritized safety over spectacle. His conservative approach was evident in the final laps, when fuel management cost him 14 seconds in pace without compromising the result.

Oscar Piastri finished fourth and is now 30 points behind his teammate. The difference illustrates the contrast between the Australian's inconsistency and Norris's consistency during the decisive moments of the season.

Photo By Red Bull Content Pool

Mercedes Extracts the Maximum

Russell finished third despite the steering problems that affected him since qualifying. His early pit stop provided opportunities to pressure Verstappen, but the superiority of the RB21 became evident when the strategies balanced out.

Andrea Kimi Antonelli staged the most notable comeback of the race, climbing from 17th position to fifth place. His early pit stop allowed him to complete 48 laps on the hard compound, resisting pressure from Piastri in the final stint despite a five-second penalty for a jump start.

Lewis Hamilton closed a positive performance for Mercedes by finishing tenth from 19th on the grid, avoiding a minor contact with Alexander Albon on lap 13.

Photo By Red Bull Content Pool

The FIA investigation into the McLarens was still pending at the end of the race, introducing an element of uncertainty regarding the final results.

Pos	No.	Driver	Team	Time/Retired
1	#1	Max Verstappen	Red Bull Racing	1:21:08.429
2	#4	Lando Norris	McLaren	+20.741s
3	#63	George Russell	Mercedes	+23.546s
4	#81	Oscar Piastri	McLaren	+27.650s
5	#12	Kimi Antonelli	Mercedes	+30.488s
6	#16	Charles Leclerc	Ferrari	+30.678s
7	#55	Carlos Sainz	Williams	+34.924s
8	#6	Isack Hadjar	Racing Bulls	+45.257s
9	#27	Nico Hülkenberg	Kick Sauber	+51.134s
10	#44	Lewis Hamilton	Ferrari	+59.369s
11	#31	Esteban Ocon	Haas F1 Team	+60.635s
12	#87	Oliver Bearman	Haas F1 Team	+70.549s
13	#14	Fernando Alonso	Aston Martin	+85.308s
14	#22	Yuki Tsunoda	Red Bull Racing	+86.974s
15	#10	Pierre Gasly	Alpine	+91.702s
16	#30	Liam Lawson	Racing Bulls	+1 lap
17	#43	Franco Colapinto	Alpine	+1 lap
NC	#23	Alexander Albon	Williams	DNF
NC	#5	Gabriel Bortoleto	Kick Sauber	DNF
NC	#18	Lance Stroll	Aston Martin	DNF