Lando Norris may not have had a definitive win in Las Vegas, but he’s taken another crucial step toward securing the world title. While Max Verstappen remains a looming presence, his chances are dwindling as the season nears its end.
In the recent Las Vegas Grand Prix, Verstappen, who started in second position, managed to clinch victory, overtaking Norris, who began in the pole position and finished as the runner-up. Despite this outcome, Norris’s lead in the championship race remains formidable.
The podium celebrations at the Bellagio hotel were a spectacle, with fireworks lighting up the sky as George Russell joined Norris and Verstappen in a pink Lego Cadillac. Yet, despite the fanfare, the possibility of Verstappen pulling off a late-season upset seems increasingly unlikely given the time constraints.
Statistically, Norris holds a commanding advantage. With just two races remaining, including a sprint in Qatar and the final showdown in Abu Dhabi, Norris has a 30-point lead over Oscar Piastri and a 42-point lead over Verstappen, with only 58 points left in play.
For Norris, the path to his first world title seems clear, provided he avoids any catastrophic missteps. The upcoming races will be crucial, but as it stands, Norris is well-positioned to claim the championship, barring any unforeseen setbacks.
Only rounds in Qatar next week, when there is also a sprint race worth eight points, and Abu Dhabi the week afterwards, are open to Norris’s pursuers in what looks to be his maiden title success for the taking – unless he sets fire to his hopes in a way he should not.
Max Verstappen won again in Las Vegas to keep his slim Formula 1 title hopes alive
But for Lando Norris, he leaves Sin City another step closer to claiming the Formula 1 title
Norris and Verstappen took a ride in a pink lego Cadillac to the podium after the race
But did we see some jitteriness in the championship leader? His one blip came at the start. He was well away from pole and covered Verstappen aggressively in moving to his left, but he was too exuberant at the first corner, braking late into the Turn One hairpin 218 yards down from where he started.
‘I f***** it up,’ admitted Norris afterwards. ‘I was too punchy, and it cost me.’
Yet his margin of advantage in the standings permits him some space to err and stray, and he was relaxed despite the error in the post-race interviews.
His error at the start saw him lose first place and he fell back into third position, Russell passing his McLaren too.
Verstappen, in truth, was away from this point onwards and always looked assured of adding this victory to his Las Vegas triumph of two years ago.
Norris passed Russell on lap 34 of 50 along the Boulevard, with its famously grandiose hotels, and went on a charge for Verstappen, but he had no extra pace on the Red Bull man. Norris was nursing a problem it seemed as the race closed and was 20 seconds back in the final analysis.
‘Great execution,’ said Verstappen over the radio to his team after Catherine Zeta-Jones waved the chequered flag. ‘Very happy, guys, well done.’
He added: ‘After Abu Dhabi we will see where we end up. We have had some ups and downs and some beautiful moments, which is good for the years ahead.’
George Russell finished in third place and joined Verstappen and Norris on the podium
Racing has taken over the Las Vegas strip this weekend but sadly, the race wasn’t a classic
Lewis Hamilton fought his way to 10th place – the Brit began the day last in his Ferrari
Russell’s third place was another success in a fine season from him, but his Mercedes is not equipped for title potential.
It was, in truth, a dull race, one of the worst of the year, for all the hoopla and the bright lights – a shame because Sin City’s previous two editions were full of sparkle.
Kimi Antonelli, having something of a revival in a searching first season for Mercedes, would have finished fourth, a place ahead of Piastri, but he was handed a five-second penalty for jumping the start.
His anticipatory move was not discernible, or barely so, to the naked eye. He came in fifth once his subtraction was imposed.
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc finished sixth, with Lewis Hamilton only 10th in the other red car, though that was some redemption after he qualified in last place. He navigated the start smoothly as Sauber’s Gabriel Bortoleto drove into Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll, but scoring a single point was not anything to write home about.
Mickey Mouse did a turn at the podium extravaganza, David Coulthard admonished Norris for swearing. ‘You can’t say that,’ he told Norris. The championship leader was chipper.
He could afford to be, probably, being closer to accomplishing his dream even as Verstappen won.
