Motorsport photoJake Boxall-LeggeSun, November 23, 2025 at 5:43 AM UTC·7 min readMax Verstappen kept his Formula 1 title hopes alive with victory at the Las Vegas Grand Prix, capitalising from Lando Norris' wide moment at the start of the race.
Verstappen's fast start forced Norris into an aggressive defence into the opening corner, but the Briton outbraked himself in the short run to Turn 1 to extinguish any momentum. The reigning champion broke past to lead the race, while Norris ended up losing another position to George Russell, who nipped past Carlos Sainz off the line.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementAlthough Russell put Verstappen under pressure in the early laps, the Red Bull driver weathered the storm and rebuilt a buffer to keep the Mercedes out of DRS range. As such, Russell then began to fall back, providing Norris with an opportunity to upgrade his position.
However, Russell's undercut strategy to collect the hard tyre ensured that any Norris challenge would have to wait until after the stops, and briefly offered the Mercedes driver a chance to get closer to Verstappen once the pitstop cycle had played out.
Verstappen emerged from his own stop just over a second clear of Russell and, with fresher tyres, easily bolted into the distance. This again left Russell in the clutches of Norris, who cruised past on the 34th lap at Turn 14 – the now third-placed Russell admitting that he didn't want to take risk and concede a podium finish.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementGeorge Russell, Mercedes
George Russell, MercedesNorris was told to chase after Verstappen, but the Dutchman was kept informed of the McLaren driver's renewed challenge and began to turn in a series of quick laps. This ensured that Norris had little chance of reclaiming the lead, and the deal was done when Norris' pace dropped significantly late on.
A need to save fuel at the end of the race cost Norris around 14 seconds in the final four laps, although his advantage over Russell was good enough to retain second at the line. Russell had encountered the same steering issues that he'd faced in qualifying, although protection from a long-stinting Andrea Kimi Antonelli ensured that the Briton faced no further threat to his podium finish.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementAfter starting 17th, Antonelli had done 48 laps on the hard tyre having stopped early on to ditch the soft tyres he'd started on, but dropped from fourth to fifth due to a five-second penalty – accrued for jumping the start by a barely perceptible amount on the grid.
Oscar Piastri thus moved up to fourth to lessen the damage in the championship, although now sits 30 points behind Norris in the standings, having kept Charles Leclerc at bay while battling behind Antonelli.
Sainz collected seventh, over 10 seconds clear of Isack Hadjar as the duo's impressive qualifying performances were converted into points finishes, while Nico Hulkenberg and Lewis Hamilton completed the top 10; Hamilton moved up from 19th on the grid, having survived contact with Alex Albon on the 13th lap.
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Lando Norris, McLaren, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
Lando Norris, McLaren, Max Verstappen, Red Bull RacingPatrick T. Fallon / AFP via Getty Images
Magic Johnson arrives in the Paddock
Magic Johnson arrives in the PaddockGuido De Bortoli
Jay-Z on the Pirelli hot laps grid
Jay-Z on the Pirelli hot laps gridSimon Galloway / LAT Images via Getty Images
Cynthia Erivo at Pirelli Hot Laps with Jenson Button
Cynthia Erivo at Pirelli Hot Laps with Jenson ButtonPeter Fox / Getty Images
Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls Team
Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls TeamGuido De Bortoli
Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls Team
Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls TeamGuido De Bortoli
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementA'ja Wilson arrives in the Paddock
A'ja Wilson arrives in the PaddockGuido De Bortoli
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Lewis Hamilton, FerrariSam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull Racing Team
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull Racing TeamChris Graythen / Getty Images
Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team
Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 TeamSimon Galloway / LAT Images via Getty Images
Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team
Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 TeamSimon Galloway / LAT Images via Getty Images
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton, FerrariZak Mauger / LAT Images via Getty Images
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementCharles Leclerc, Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton, FerrariZak Mauger / LAT Images via Getty Images
Lando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLaren
Lando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLarenChris Graythen / Getty Images
Lando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLaren
Lando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLarenChris Graythen / Getty Images
Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls Team, Pierre Gasly, Alpine, Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls Team
Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls Team, Pierre Gasly, Alpine, Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls TeamBryn Lennon / Formula 1 / Getty Images
Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls Team, Pierre Gasly, Alpine, Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls Team
Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls Team, Pierre Gasly, Alpine, Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls TeamBryn Lennon / Formula 1 / Getty Images
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementLance Stroll, Aston Martin Racing
Lance Stroll, Aston Martin RacingZak Mauger / LAT Images via Getty Images
Oscar Piastri, McLaren, Pierre Gasly, Alpine
Oscar Piastri, McLaren, Pierre Gasly, AlpineGuido De Bortoli / LAT Images via Getty Images
Oscar Piastri, McLaren, Pierre Gasly, Alpine
Oscar Piastri, McLaren, Pierre Gasly, AlpineGuido De Bortoli / LAT Images via Getty Images
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Lewis Hamilton, FerrariJames Sutton / Formula 1 / Formula Motorsport Ltd via Getty Images
Lando Norris, McLaren
Lando Norris, McLarenMark Sutton / Formula 1 via Getty Images
Flavio Briatore, Executive Advisor of Alpine F1 talks with Naomi Campbell
Flavio Briatore, Executive Advisor of Alpine F1 talks with Naomi CampbellSam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementToto Wolff, Mercedes
Toto Wolff, MercedesKym Illman / Getty Images
Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing
Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin RacingRudy Carezzevoli / Getty Images
Zak Brown, McLaren
Zak Brown, McLarenGlenn Dunbar / LAT Images via Getty Images
Carlos Sainz, Williams
Carlos Sainz, WilliamsPeter Fox / Getty Images
Frederic Vasseur, Ferrari
Frederic Vasseur, FerrariRudy Carezzevoli / Getty Images
Lando Norris, McLaren
Lando Norris, McLarenGlenn Dunbar / LAT Images via Getty Images
Terry Crews
Terry CrewsBryn Lennon / Formula 1 via Getty Images
Lando Norris, McLaren, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
Lando Norris, McLaren, Max Verstappen, Red Bull RacingMark Thompson / Getty Images
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementMax Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
Max Verstappen, Red Bull RacingKym Illman / Getty Images
Oscar Piastri, McLaren, Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls Team
Oscar Piastri, McLaren, Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls TeamAlex Bierens de Haan / LAT Images via Getty Images
Pierre Gasly, Alpine, Gabriel Bortoleto, Sauber
Pierre Gasly, Alpine, Gabriel Bortoleto, SauberSam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images
Fans
FansDavid Becker / Formula 1 via Getty Images
Marshals clean up debris on track
Marshals clean up debris on trackKym Illman / Getty Images
Gabriel Bortoleto, Sauber
Gabriel Bortoleto, SauberJayce Illman / Getty Images
Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls Team
Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls TeamMichael Potts / LAT Images via Getty Images
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementAndrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, MercedesPeter Fox / Getty Images
Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull Racing
Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull RacingJames Sutton / Formula 1 / Formula Motorsport Ltd via Getty Images
Gabriel Bortoleto, Sauber
Gabriel Bortoleto, SauberZak Mauger / LAT Images via Getty Images
Lando Norris, McLaren
Lando Norris, McLarenClive Rose / Formula 1 via Getty Images
Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing
Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin RacingZak Mauger / LAT Images via Getty Images
Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing
Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin RacingZak Mauger / LAT Images via Getty Images
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Lewis Hamilton, FerrariZak Mauger / LAT Images via Getty Images
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementLewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Lewis Hamilton, FerrariZak Mauger / LAT Images via Getty Images
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls Team
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls TeamFrederic J. Brown / AFP Via Getty Images
Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing
Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin RacingClive Mason / Getty Images
Carlos Sainz, Williams
Carlos Sainz, WilliamsClive Mason / Getty Images
Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing
Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin RacingZak Mauger / LAT Images via Getty Images
Lando Norris, McLaren
Lando Norris, McLarenHector Vivas / Getty Images
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
Max Verstappen, Red Bull RacingClive Rose / Formula 1 via Getty Images
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementMax Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
Max Verstappen, Red Bull RacingClive Rose / Getty Images
Lando Norris, McLaren, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
Lando Norris, McLaren, Max Verstappen, Red Bull RacingMark Thompson / Getty Images
Lando Norris, McLaren, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
Lando Norris, McLaren, Max Verstappen, Red Bull RacingGlenn Dunbar / LAT Images via Getty Images
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