Verstappen Dazes Las Vegas: A Vegas Lights Win as Norris Keeps the Dream Alive
23 November 2025
Verstappen Cruises to Victory as Las Vegas Shines
Max Verstappen, driving for Red Bull, won the Las Vegas Grand Prix in the United States, with Lando Norris of McLaren finishing a valiant second and closing the gap toward his first world title in the Formula 1 season’s twenty-second round.
The four-time world champion delivered a faultless performance, seizing or maintaining the lead from the start as the race began in the neon glow of Las Vegas. Norris pushed hard to challenge, but Verstappen controlled the tempo through the 50 laps across the 309.958-kilometer distance and never relinquished the top spot.
Norris, buoyed by victories in Mexico City and Sao Paulo, pressed to topple the Dutchman first, yet a momentary lapse at the brakes allowed Verstappen to extend his advantage, denying Norris a clean shot at the lead early on.
The early fight for a podium place also saw George Russell of Mercedes briefly contend for second before Norris steadied the McLaren charge. In the end, Norris held second, with Russell completing the podium as the race unfolded.
Verstappen crossed the finish line in 1:21:08.429 over the 50 laps, finishing 20.741 seconds clear of Norris, and 23.546 seconds ahead of reigning champion Russell. It marked Verstappen’s second Las Vegas victory (also 2023), his sixth win of the season, and the 69th of his career, extending an eight-race podium streak.
“It costs me a lot,” Norris admitted in the post-race mixed zone, reflecting on the toughest moments of the day. He added, “I made a mistake at the first corner. You have to start strong, but I pushed a bit too hard and paid the price.” He continued, “Second place is still a good result with many points, and I let Max win today.”
Reflecting on the show as a whole, Norris said Las Vegas was about putting on a memorable display, even if it wasn’t his finest performance. A gap of more than 20 seconds shows Verstappen’s dominance when everything clicks, and Norris acknowledged the distance to close the championship remains substantial.
With two races remaining, Norris’s lead in the drivers’ standings sits at 408 points, ahead of Oscar Piastri (378) and Verstappen (366). In the constructors’ race, McLaren extended its lead with 786 points, while Mercedes sits second on 423, Red Bull third on 391, and Ferrari fourth on 371.
On strategy, Verstappen credited Red Bull’s tire choices as a decisive factor, saying, “We weren’t perfect on tires, but today we appeared more in control, able to push longer and split the race into two halves.” He added that the car’s setup allowed him to feel comfortable every lap and conserve tires without sacrificing pace.
Piastri, who started fifth, had a rough moment when he collided with Liam Lawson but escaped significant damage, finishing fourth. The Australian acknowledged his teammate’s earlier advantage but admitted that his own attempt to push for more yielded mixed results.
Piastri also commented on the championship outlook, noting that catching Norris would require more than a single race win; “I hope to close the gap in Qatar, but I need more than that now. Finishing the year strongly would be ideal, yet the championship situation remains as it stands.”
As the season counts down, the title chase remains tightly wound, with Verstappen’s challenge still alive by the slimmest thread and Norris defending a slender but valuable advantage. The coming races promise more drama as the grid pushes to the limit.
Punchline time: If Verstappen ever moonlights as a sniper, he’d tag the target before Norris could even blink. And Norris’s brakes? They’re so polite they brake for him—just not when the trophy is in sight.
