Post by : Rameen Ariff

Max Verstappen of Red Bull secured a commanding victory at the Las Vegas Grand Prix on Saturday evening, casting a spotlight on McLaren’s Lando Norris, who bolstered his championship standing. Norris finished in second place, extending his points lead over teammate Oscar Piastri to 30.

The race unfolded under the dazzling lights of the Las Vegas Strip, challenging drivers on a fast-paced street circuit. Norris, the championship leader, aimed for a robust performance to keep his title aspirations alive. With only two races and one sprint remaining this season, he now holds 408 points, ahead of Piastri with 378 points, while Verstappen stays competitive with 366 points.

Piastri finished in fourth, following a five-second penalty imposed on Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli for an early jump at the start. George Russell, celebrating his 150th race alongside Norris, claimed third place for Mercedes.

Verstappen's Dominance Under the Neon Glow

Verstappen delivered a near-flawless performance, overtaking Norris early after the latter ran wide at the opening curve, which allowed both Verstappen and Russell to surge ahead. From that moment, Verstappen meticulously increased his lead, crossing the finish line over 20 seconds ahead of his nearest rival.

This victory marks Verstappen’s 69th career win, his sixth this season, and his eighth consecutive podium finish. This achievement coincided with Red Bull's 150th race partnered with Honda.

"The gap was quite substantial in the end," Verstappen expressed, pleased with the car's performance.

Norris Moves Closer to First World Championship

Although missing out on the win, Norris’s second-place finish places him in a favourable position to secure his first Formula One championship. He humorously mentioned that he “let Max have the win” but later acknowledged that he braked too late at the start, costing him an early lead.

Despite the misstep, Norris rebounded impressively, reclaiming second place from Russell on lap 34. He then proceeded to manage his fuel meticulously throughout the rest of the race.

With McLaren having already clinched the Constructors’ Championship for a consecutive year, Norris now has the opportunity to claim the Drivers’ Championship next weekend in Qatar.

Key Race Highlights and Incidents

There were numerous thrilling moments during the race:

• Oscar Piastri dropped from fifth to seventh early on after making contact with Liam Lawson, but managed to recover and finish fourth.

• Lance Stroll and Gabriel Borteleto collided at the first corner, resulting in both drivers retiring from the race.

• The Virtual Safety Car was deployed twice due to track debris.

• Alex Albon and Lewis Hamilton were involved in a collision, leading to a penalty for Albon. Hamilton, starting from the back of the grid, fought his way back to score points.

Charles Leclerc of Ferrari finished sixth, with Carlos Sainz in seventh for Williams. Isack Hadjar took eighth for Racing Bulls, followed by Nico Hulkenberg and Hamilton, rounding out the top ten.

With only three sessions left in the season, the championship battle intensifies. All eyes are now set on Qatar, where Norris could finally clinch his long-awaited world title.

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