Credited from: SCMP
Red Bull's Max Verstappen delivered a commanding performance to win the Las Vegas Grand Prix on November 22, creating a significant shift in the Formula 1 drivers' championship standings. He finished more than 20 seconds ahead of McLaren's Lando Norris, who initially crossed the line in second but was later disqualified along with teammate Oscar Piastri for technical infringements related to the cars' skid blocks being below the regulated depth, according to Le Monde, Reuters, and BBC.
With the disqualifications, Norris's championship lead narrowed to just 24 points ahead of both Verstappen and Piastri. Norris had been in a strong position to claim his first title, needing only to gain two points over Piastri and 17 over Verstappen in the upcoming race in Qatar to secure the championship, as reported by Al Jazeera and South China Morning Post.
Verstappen's win marked his sixth of the season and brought him level on points with Piastri, as both now trail Norris closely. The Dutch driver expressed pride in his team's performance, highlighting the strategic successes and saying, "Normally the race is always tough for us... but today it seemed like we were more in control," according to India Times, BBC, and Le Monde.
In critiques of the race dynamics, Norris remarked on his first-turn error that allowed Verstappen to take the lead and later said, "I made the mistake early on and was too punchy on that first turn," reflecting on the competitive pressure experienced during the race, as noted by BBC and Al Jazeera.
The disqualifications not only impacted Norris and Piastri but also reignited the title race dynamic, with both drivers now needing to navigate the challenges of the remaining races against the background of their recent penalties. Despite the setbacks, Norris is poised to attempt to secure the championship in Qatar, where he will have another chance to solidify his lead over his rivals, according to India Times and Le Monde.