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11/22 23:37 CST Max Verstappen wins Las Vegas Grand Prix, narrows F1 points gap
Max Verstappen wins Las Vegas Grand Prix, narrows F1 points gap
By JENNA FRYER
AP Auto Racing Writer
LAS VEGAS (AP) --- Max Verstappen won for the second time in four races and the
four-time reigning Formula 1 champion continued to claw his way back into title
picture with a Saturday night victory at the Las Vegas Grand Prix.
It is the second time in three years the Dutchman has won on the streets of Las
Vegas that utilizes a part of the famed Strip. He won the inaugural race in
2023 and clinched his fourth consecutive title here last year.
Now he has another win at an event he despised ahead of its debut because of
the bright spotlight promoters placed on celebrities and parties instead of the
actual competition. But when it comes time to get in the car, no matter how
Verstappen feels about the event, he seems to excel.
Verstappen started second but took control of the race in the very first turn
when current points leader Lando Norris made an aggressive move to cut in front
of him at the start but wound up sliding wide of the turn in his McLaren.
Verstappen moved to the lead and George Russell darted past Norris into second.
Norris found himself stuck back in third, and teammate Oscar Piastri fared no
better as the Australian lost two spots on the start to drop from fifth to
seventh. The two McLaren drivers have swapped the lead in the driver standings
all season and Norris held a 24-point lead over Piastri at the start, while
Verstappen was 49 points back.
Norris finished second and Russell was third, and with two races remaining on
the year Norris' lead is 30 points over Piastri and Verstappen trimmed his
deficit to 42 points.
Kimi Antonelli of Mercedes crossed the finish line in fourth but a penalty
dropped him a spot to fifth, which moved Piastri to fourth.
The biggest mover of the race was seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton, who
qualified 20th in Ferrari's first last-place qualifying result since 2009. He
actually started 19th and immediately gained six spots. Hamilton steadily
picked his way through the field and finished 10th.
For Verstappen, it was his eighth consecutive podium and he beat Norris by
nearly 20 seconds.
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AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing
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