Formula 1 News: Verstappen outduels Norris to win Las Vegas GP

In a neon-lit masterclass of nerve and precision, Max Verstappen turned the tables on polesitter Lando Norris right from the green light, seizing the lead at Turn 1 and holding firm through a barrage of challenges to claim victory in the 2025 Las Vegas Grand Prix. The Red Bull ace crossed the line 20.275 seconds ahead, notching his 69th career win – and sixth of the season – while denying McLaren a potential championship-clinching moment under the glittering lights of the Las Vegas Street Circuit.

–by Mark Cipolloni–

The 50-lap sprint on the 6.201-kilometer street circuit delivered edge-of-your-seat drama, with Verstappen’s tactical tire management and raw pace proving decisive against a McLaren that had shown flashes of dominance all weekend. “It worked really well,” Verstappen said post-race, flashing his trademark grin. “Normally the race is a tough one for us, but today I unlocked some pace, could stay out longer, and that helped a lot. The car was working much more to my liking.”

A Lightning Start Sets the Tone

As the field roared away from the grid, Norris held the pole advantage briefly—but only for a heartbeat. Verstappen, starting second, pounced into Turn 1 with a bold inside move, threading the needle past the McLaren without a hint of contact. It was a statement of intent: the Dutch driver, trailing Norris by 42 points in the Drivers’ Championship, wasn’t here to play second fiddle.

Norris, hungry for his 8th win of the campaign, radioed his team with fire in his voice early on. McLaren’s strategists urged him forward: “Go get Max.” And get him; he tried. Lap after lap, Norris tried to close the gap, but Verstappen was unflappable, responding with pure skill in an inferior car that stretched the lead back out every lap. The duel evoked a mentor schooling his protégé – Verstappen, the four-time world champion, dissecting every feint from the young Brit.

Mid-Race Chess: Strategy and Setbacks

Behind the leaders, Mercedes’ George Russell mounted a ferocious early charge, nipping at Verstappen’s heels and briefly sniffing the lead. But his aggression came at a cost: overworked tires that “damaged” under the strain, as Russell later admitted. “I pushed hard to get Max and just damaged my tires,” the podium finisher reflected. “I wasn’t sure they’d make it to the end. Just pleased to get a podium.”

Red Bull’s setup wizardry shone through in the middle stints. Verstappen nursed his mediums longer than expected, pitting later than Norris on Lap 18 for fresh hards. This overcut kept him ahead, while McLaren’s one-stop gamble for Norris faltered under mounting pressure. Oscar Piastri, Norris’ teammate, shadowed the top duo but couldn’t crack the podium, settling for fourth after a clean but unspectacular run.

Further back, rookie sensation Kimi Antonelli clawed his way from a grid penalty – a five-second hit for a jumped start – to fifth, showcasing Mercedes’ depth. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz rounded out the points, but it was a forgettable afternoon for the Scuderia, with Lewis Hamilton nursing a tenth-place finish.

Notable casualties included Williams’ Alex Albon (retiring on Lap 36 with mechanical woes), Sauber’s Gabriel Bortoleto (out after five laps), and Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll (a lap-1 DNF after being punted out by Bortoleto).

Late Drama Seals the Deal

Just when Norris seemed poised for a late surge, misfortune struck. On the penultimate lap, a gremlin in his MCL39 – suspected hybrid deployment issues – sapped his power, ballooning the deficit from six seconds to over 20 in a blink. Verstappen, sensing blood, romped home unchallenged, capping the triumph with a blistering final-lap effort: 1:33.365, a new Las Vegas record.

Championship Implications: Norris’ Grip Tightens

The verdict breathes life into Verstappen’s campaign. Norris retains a 42-point lead with 58 on offer across the finale double-header, but the Red Bull win – coupled with Piastri’s P4 slipping him to 30 points adrift of his teammate – ensures the Drivers’ Championship remains a knife-edge affair. Verstappen downplayed the optics: “It’s a big gap, but we’re not done fighting.”

Russell’s third keeps Mercedes in 2nd for the Constructor’s championship, but Red Bull’s Vegas haul keeps them mathematically in the hunt. As the paddock packs up under the Bellagio’s fountains, one thing’s clear: Verstappen’s Strip mastery was no gamble – it was calculated dominance.

2025 Las Vegas GP Race Results: 50 Laps