Verstappen wins in Vegas after Norris’s first-corner error extends championship battle

Max Verstappen kept his Formula 1 championship hopes alive with a powerful win in Las Vegas, taking control of the race from the first corner after Lando Norris made a major mistake from pole position.

Norris tried to block Verstappen immediately at the start, cutting his McLaren sharply across the track. He braked too late, ran wide, and opened the door for Verstappen to slip ahead. George Russell also passed Norris, dropping the championship leader from first to third within seconds.

From that moment, Verstappen never lost control. Even though Red Bull had little tire information after two days of rain and delays, the four-time world champion judged the race himself and kept his pace steady and confident. His pit stop was slower than usual, but he stayed in front and quickly pulled away again.

Norris tried to fight back later in the race and even passed Russell, but Verstappen easily shut down the threat. Red Bull told him that Norris had been instructed to attack.

Verstappen crossed the finish line 20 seconds ahead, with actress Catherine Zeta-Jones waving the checkered flag. It was his sixth win of the season and the 69th of his career.

“Wow man, what a day! Simply lovely, what a strong performance,” Verstappen said over the radio. His engineer Gianpiero Lambiase replied, “Too good man, you’re just too good.”

Norris finished second and kept his championship lead at 42 points with races in Qatar and Abu Dhabi still to come. Russell took third. Oscar Piastri struggled all weekend and finished fifth on the road, but moved up to fourth when Kimi Antonelli received a five-second penalty for a false start. Piastri now sits only 12 points ahead of Verstappen in the standings.

The win was Verstappen’s eighth in the United States, and he celebrated in style, smiling broadly as he rode in a pink LEGO Cadillac to the Bellagio for champagne, ANP reported.