Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands drives during the Formula One Las Vegas Grand Prix auto race, Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025 in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
(ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Max Verstappen won the Las Vegas Grand Prix as Lando Norris extended his points lead even further over McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri.
Norris started on pole but blew the first corner and allowed Verstappen to drive past and into the lead. From there, the four-time defending champion led every lap and wasn’t challenged, as Norris finished second and George Russell was third.
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Norris looked to have pace to challenge Verstappen in the final stages of the race, but dropped off significantly over the final laps. Verstappen won by over 20 seconds.
Piastri finished fourth and scored 12 points. Norris had 18 for second and now leads Piastri by 30 points with two Grands Prix and a sprint race to go in the 2025 season.
If Norris leaves Qatar next weekend with a lead of 26 points or more, he’ll win the championship. It was imperative for Piastri to cut into Norris’ lead on Saturday. Instead, the deficit got bigger.
Verstappen is still mathematically alive for the championship too, but only barely. He’s 42 points back of Norris. With a Grand Prix win worth 25 points and a sprint race worth eight points, Verstappen needs a lot of Norris misfortune in Qatar for a chance to win a fifth straight title in Abu Dhabi.
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The race was uneventful after the first lap. Gabriel Bortoleto caused a crash at the back of the field in the first corner that forced his own retirement from the race and also caused Lance Stroll to end his race early. A moment of danger then happened at the start of the second lap as track marshals were running off the track to pick up the debris from the early incident as the leaders crossed the start/finish line.
The biggest movers were Kimi Antonelli and Lewis Hamilton. Both drivers were eliminated in the first qualifying round on Friday night. Antonelli finished fifth — he was fourth on track — after a five-second penalty for a false start and gained 11 spots from his 17th-place starting position. Hamilton started 19th and finished 10th after he gained six spots on the first lap.
Las Vegas Grand Prix results
1. Max Verstappen, Red Bull
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2. Lando Norris, McLaren
3. George Russell, Mercedes
4. Oscar Piastri, McLaren
5. Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
6. Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
7. Carlos Sainz, Williams
8. Isack Hadjar, RB
9. Nico Hulkenberg, Sauber
10. Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
11. Esteban Ocon, Haas
12. Ollie Bearman, Haas
13. Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin
14. Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull
15. Pierre Gasly, Alpine
16. Liam Lawson, RB
17. Franco Colapinto, Alpine
Not classified: Alex Albon, Williams; Gabriel Bortoleto, Sauber; Lance Stroll, Aston Martin
