F1:Verstappen wins in Las Vegas and reduces Norris’ advantage to 24 points after disqualification By Carolina Costa
2 min read
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Max Verstappen won the GP of Las Vegas of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, McLaren drivers, were disqualified due to technical irregularities in the floor of the cars. With this, the Dutchman from Red Bull added 25 points without any direct opponents scoring, reducing the gap to the leader Norris from 62 to 24 points with two stages remaining.
The race held on the urban circuit of Las Vegas ended with Verstappen in front, followed by George Russell and Kimi Antonelli, from Mercedes. The disqualification elevated Russell to second place and Antonelli to third. The FIA’s decision came after a post-race technical check that showed non-conformity in the McLaren’s plank.
Uncontested victory on the American route
Verstappen started second and took the lead on the first lap. The four-time champion maintained a strong pace during the 50 laps and crossed the finish line with a comfortable margin.
The Red Bull strategy worked perfectly in low temperatures and on a track with little grip. The Dutchman made no mistakes and managed tires throughout the race.
Immediate impact on the leaderboard
With the exclusion of the two McLarens, Verstappen gained 25 points without Norris and Piastri scoring. The difference fell from 62 to 24 points in favor of the Briton.
- Norris leads with 395 points
- Verstappen has 371 points
- Piastri appears in third with 347 points
- Charles Leclerc has 298 points
There are now the Catar GP, with a sprint race, and the Abu Dhabi GP to define the 2025 champion.
Upcoming challenges at Oriente Médio
The next stage takes place at Circuito of Losail, at Catar, between November 28th and 30th. The schedule includes the last sprint of the year, which distributes up to eight extra points.
Verstappen is the biggest sprint race winner in the history of Fórmula 1. McLaren, in turn, tends to perform well on high-speed and hotter circuits.
Mercedes performance highlighted
George Russell originally finished third and inherited second place. Kimi Antonelli, rookie, started in 17th, received a five-second penalty and still reached the podium.
The German team confirmed its strength on low-grip and cold tracks. Lewis Hamilton completed the race in sixth place after a difficult start.
Episode involving Brazilian pilot
Gabriel Bortoleto, from Sauber, retired on lap 12 after touching with Lance Stroll. The Brazilian acknowledged the mistake and apologized to the Canadian from Aston Martin.
Bortoleto will receive a five-place penalty on the Catar GP grid. The driver has already won on the Losail route for the Fórmula 2 in 2024.
The 2025 season reaches the final stretch with the title still up for grabs. The 24-point gap keeps Norris ahead, but the run of Verstappen increases the pressure on McLaren in the remaining two races.
