Max Verstappen Claims Victory in Las Vegas, Pressures Lando Norris

Max Verstappen dominated the Las Vegas Grand Prix on October 22, 2025, clinching his fifth victory of the season. The Dutch driver overtook Lando Norris right out of Turn 1 and maintained his lead throughout the race, keeping his slim championship aspirations alive. Norris, the current championship leader, finished in second place, while his teammate Oscar Piastri secured fourth after a challenging start.

Norris now leads Piastri by 30 points in the championship standings, while Verstappen is 42 points behind Norris. With only one sprint race and two Grands Prix left in the season, the pressure is mounting as Norris inches closer to securing the title.

Norris Steers Toward Championship

Starting from pole position, Norris aimed to solidify his championship lead but faced immediate challenges. After a strong start, he attempted to block Verstappen but ended up losing positions to both Verstappen and George Russell, settling into third place during the opening stages.

As the race progressed, Norris struggled with dirty air and tire degradation. His strategy to extend his first stint by five laps did not yield the hoped-for advantage, as he later asked his engineer, “What do you mean, get Max? We’re just slow?” Ultimately, second place proved sufficient for Norris, who is now in a position to potentially clinch the championship in Qatar next weekend if he maintains a 26-point lead.

Piastri’s race was marked by a few setbacks, including minor damage from an early incident with Liam Lawson. However, he executed a strategic second Virtual Safety Car restart, moving up the field effectively. Despite finishing fourth, Piastri’s performance was not enough to significantly close the gap to Norris, who retains a solid lead with only two races remaining.

Verstappen’s Commanding Performance

Verstappen’s victory in Las Vegas showcased his driving prowess and strategic acumen. After a less-than-ideal qualifying session, he started from second but quickly capitalized on Norris’s mistake at the first turn. Despite a slow pit stop on Lap 26, he rejoined the race in a commanding position, ultimately building a gap of 5.5 seconds over Norris by Lap 38.

The victory not only keeps Verstappen in the championship conversation but also positions him just ten points behind Piastri for second place. However, he remains over 40 points adrift of Norris, highlighting the challenge ahead with limited races left in the season.

George Russell, who started strongly and was initially competitive with Verstappen, finished in third place but faced difficulties in maintaining pace. Russell’s decision to pit five laps before Norris resulted in tire issues that hindered his performance.

The race in Las Vegas also marked a notable moment for the Ferrari team. Lewis Hamilton, who started in 19th after a challenging qualifying session, managed to climb to tenth place but could not significantly impact the constructor standings. Ferrari remains in fourth place, still recovering from recent performance setbacks.

As the season approaches its climax, the Las Vegas Grand Prix results set the stage for an exciting conclusion, with Norris on the brink of his first championship and Verstappen and Piastri vying for the runner-up position.