Max Verstappen’s win at the recent Las Vegas Grand Prix has gained more significance as Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri were retrospectively disqualified from the race. Norris, who was leading the standings 24 points ahead of Piastri, now faces a tighter competition from Verstappen, who trails by 25 points.
Verstappen’s victory in Las Vegas has closed the gap on Norris to 42 points after surpassing him in the race, with Piastri finishing fourth. Following McLaren’s disqualification, Verstappen is now tied with Piastri for the second spot, leaving Norris ahead by 24 points with just two races and one sprint race left in the season.
After the race, McLaren drivers Norris and Piastri faced the stewards due to their cars’ skid blocks not meeting post-race regulations. Verstappen, who overtook Norris to claim first place, was further pleased when McLaren’s disqualification came to light.
In a twist, Mercedes benefited as George Russell was promoted to second place from third in Vegas, with his teammate Kimi Antonelli climbing to third place, marking his third podium finish in his debut F1 season.
Despite the odds, Verstappen aims to close the points gap as the season heads to the Qatar Grand Prix and then concludes in Abu Dhabi. A tiebreaker scenario might arise if Verstappen and Norris end up with equal points, with race wins becoming the deciding factor.
Norris holds the lead with his consistent performances, but Verstappen’s recent podium finishes have intensified the competition. The upcoming races will determine whether Verstappen can secure the championship or if Norris can maintain his top position.