Red Bull’s Max Verstappen claimed victory at the Las Vegas Grand Prix 2025 on Saturday, but the real headline was McLaren’s Lando Norris extending his lead in the Formula One Drivers’ Championship. Norris finished second, closing the gap to his teammate Oscar Piastri while keeping four-time world champion Verstappen mathematically in contention.

Race Overview

The Las Vegas GP featured a thrilling 50-lap race along the Las Vegas Strip Circuit, with fireworks lighting up the skyline as drivers battled for position. George Russell, last year’s winner and making his 150th start, completed the podium in third place for Mercedes.

Piastri finished fourth, but after a five-second penalty for Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli, who crossed the line ahead, Piastri’s final placement was adjusted. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc took sixth, while Williams’ Carlos Sainz finished seventh. Sauber’s Nico Hulkenberg and Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton rounded out the top 10.

Championship Implications

With two Grands Prix and a sprint remaining in the 2025 season, worth a maximum of 58 points, Norris now has 408 points, Piastri 378, and Verstappen 366. This positions Norris within reach of his first Formula One Drivers’ Championship, especially with McLaren having already secured the Constructors’ Championship for the second consecutive year.

“I let Max have a win,” Norris joked after the race. “I let him go, let him have a nice race. No, I just braked too late. It was not my best performance out there, but when the guy wins by 20 seconds, it’s because he has just done a better job and they’re a bit quicker.”

Key Moments in the Race

The race was marked by several incidents and penalties:

• Norris dropped to third at the first corner after running wide, allowing Verstappen and Russell to pass. He regained second on lap 34.
• Antonelli received a five-second penalty for jumping the start, promoting Piastri in the standings.
• Lance Stroll and Gabriel Bortoleto retired after a collision at the opening corner.
• Virtual Safety Cars (VSC) were deployed twice to clear debris from incidents involving Pierre Gasly, Alex Albon, and Lewis Hamilton, who made a remarkable recovery from 19th on the grid to 13th on the first lap.
• Verstappen built a 20-second lead by lap 23 and maintained his position after a mid-race pit stop, securing his 69th career win, sixth of the season, and 125th career podium.

Verstappen and Norris Reactions

Verstappen, celebrating in a LEGO pink Cadillac convertible driven by actor Terry Crews, praised his performance:

“The car was working pretty well, much more to my liking. It was at the end quite a decent gap.”

For Norris, the race was both a challenge and a stepping stone toward his championship dream. His calculated race management and podium finish put him in a strong position heading into the penultimate race in Qatar.