Max Verstappen won the Las Vegas Grand Prix as Lando Norris further extended his points lead over McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri.
Norris started from pole but missed the first corner and allowed Verstappen to pass and take the lead. From that point on, the four-time defending champion led every lap and was unchallenged, with Norris finishing second and George Russell third.
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Norris appeared to have the speed to challenge Verstappen in the closing stages of the race, but he dropped significantly in the closing laps. Verstappen won by more than 20 seconds.
Piastri finished fourth and scored 12 points. Norris had 18 points in second place and is now 40 points ahead of Piastri with two Grands Prix and a sprint race in the 2025 season.
If Norris leaves Qatar next weekend with a lead of 26 points or more, he will win the championship. On Saturday, it was vital for Piastri to reduce Norris' lead. Instead, the deficit increased.
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Verstappen is still mathematically alive to win the championship, but just barely. He trails Norris by 52 points. With a Grand Prix win worth 25 points and a sprint race worth eight points, Verstappen will need quite a few Norris upsets in Qatar to have a chance of winning a fifth straight title in Abu Dhabi.
After the first lap the race proceeded without incident. Gabriel Bortoleto caused a crash behind the field in turn one, forcing him out of the race and also forcing Lance Stroll to end the race early. The moment of danger occurred at the start of the second lap when track marshals ran off the track to collect debris from the first incident when the leaders crossed the start/finish line.
The most influential players were Kimi Antonelli and Lewis Hamilton. Both drivers were eliminated in the first qualifying round on Friday night. Antonelli finished fifth (he was fourth on the track) after a five-second penalty for a false start and scored 11 points from his 17th-place starting position. Hamilton started 19th and finished 10th after scoring six points on the first lap.
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Las Vegas Grand Prix Results
1. Max Verstappen, Red Bull
2. Lando Norris, McLaren
3. George Russell, Mercedes
4. Oscar Piastri, McLaren
5. Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
6. Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
7. Carlos Sainz, Williams
8. Isak Hadjar, RB
9. Nico Hulkenberg, Sauber
10. Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
11. Esteban Ocon, Haas
12. Ollie Bierman, Haas
13. Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin
14. Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull
15. Pierre Gasly, Alpine
16. Liam Lawson, RB
17. Franco Colapinto, Alpine
Unclassified: Alex Albon, Williams; Gabriel Bortoleto, Sauber; Lance Stroll, Aston Martin
