Max Verstappen keeps championship contention with Las Vegas Grand Prix win
23rd November 2025Red Bull Racing’s Max Verstappen claimed victory at the Las Vegas Grand Prix, pipping McLaren’s Lando Norris, and keeping himself within championship contention.
Feature image credit: Getty Images // Red Bull Content Pool
It was a straightforward, controlled race from the reigning four-time world champion, Verstappen, as he claimed his sixth win of the season at Las Vegas. He is the only driver to claim more than one victory following his win at the event’s debut in 2023.
As such, the four-time world champion has kept himself within championship contention for a fifth consecutive world title heading into the final two races of the season.
Norris took pole position at the Vegas race and darted aggressively to the inside at the race start. However, the McLaren ran wide on the opening corner and allowed Verstappen to slip on by. From there, Verstappen was in control and cruised his way to victory.
After Norris lost his track position at the start of the race, he also lost his on-track position to Mercedes’ George Russell after the Silver Arrow overtook him in the opening corners, dropping back to third. However, after the first and only stop for most of the field, Norris managed to increase his pace to overtake the #63 Mercedes.
In the dying embers of the race, Norris’ pace fell off dramatically, and the Briton fell towards the clutches of Russell in third. Despite the lack of pace, the championship leader was able to hold onto second place with a handful of seconds separating him from Russell, who completed the podium in third.
Following Verstappen’s win and Norris’ second-place finish, it means the Dutchman remains in championship contention, trailing Norris (408 points) by 42 points.
Additionally, following Oscar Piastri’s fourth-place finish, it means Verstappen inches closer to second place in the drivers’ championship. Piastri lost ground to both of his championship rivals, Norris and Verstappen, and currently sits 30 points behind the current points leader, whilst the Australian has only a 12-point advantage over Verstappen.
Only two rounds remain on the calendar: Qatar and Abu Dhabi, respectively, with the upcoming race being a sprint race weekend next week. As such, it means there are a maximum of 58 points up for grabs for the drivers heading into the final races of the season.
It also means Norris could wrap up the driver’s championship next weekend, in Qatar, ahead of the Abu Dhabi season finale.
Read more Formula 1 here:
- Lando Norris claims Las Vegas Grand Prix pole in challenging wet conditions
- George Russell tops final Las Vegas Grand Prix practice in changing conditions
- Ferrari confirm ‘steering wheel problem’ as Leclerc retired from Las Vegas FP2
- Lando Norris tops Las Vegas FP2 after red flag end due to maintenance
- Charles Leclerc tops first Las Vegas Grand Prix practice as turn 12 strikes many
- F1 teams bringing special liveries to Las Vegas Grand Prix
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