Max Verstappen surged to victory in vivid style at the Las Vegas Grand Prix. He powered past Lando Norris early in the race and built a near-21-second lead to secure his second win in Sin City.
Verstappen Wins Las Vegas Grand Prix With Authority
Verstappen asserted control of the 50-lap Las Vegas Grand Prix almost immediately after Norris, who had started from pole, ran wide in Turn 1. He then maintained his lead throughout, never truly challenged, and crossed the line a commanding 20.741 seconds ahead of Norris.
The Red Bull driver’s win in Vegas marks his 69th career victory and his sixth of the 2025 season, according to reports from The Washington Post. George Russell claimed third place for Mercedes, while Oscar Piastri rounded out the top four after a race filled with late penalties and strategy swings.
Verstappen’s Win Tightens Title Battle With Norris
The victory narrows Max Verstappen’s gap in the Drivers’ Championship, but Lando Norris still leads. Despite losing the race, Norris picked up 18 points for second place. This stretches his advantage to 30 points over teammate Oscar Piastri.
With only two Grand Prix and a sprint race remaining, Norris remains in the driver’s seat to secure his first world championship. Meanwhile, Verstappen’s late-season surge, including this Vegas win, has injected new energy into his bid for a comeback.
Race Highlights and Key Moments from Vegas
The Las Vegas Grand Prix delivered a series of pivotal race moments that shaped the final results and heightened the championship battle. The opening seconds set the tone as Lando Norris moved aggressively across the track in an effort to keep Max Verstappen behind. He had defended from the pole.
However, Norris carried too much speed into Turn 1 and ran wide, allowing Verstappen to slip through at the next corner. The moment also allowed Mercedes driver George Russell to overtake Norris for second place. This briefly placed additional pressure on the race leader.
Russell maintained proximity to Verstappen during the early laps, staying within DRS range, yet the Red Bull driver’s pace prevented any meaningful challenge. As tire strategies unfolded, Russell eventually yielded second position back to Norris, who attempted to stabilize his pace. He did this despite concerns about the car’s rear. Those issues worsened in the closing stages, causing Norris to fall significantly off Verstappen’s pace and eliminating any chance of retaking the lead.
Further down the field, Oscar Piastri recovered from a difficult opening lap, during which he narrowly avoided damage after contact between cars at Turn 1. A well-timed pit stop later in the race helped him regain multiple positions. His final advancement came when Mercedes rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli received a five-second penalty for a jump start, promoting Piastri into fourth place.
