Max Verstappen’s win at the Las Vegas Grand Prix on Sunday turned out to be more rewarding as Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri were later disqualified from the race. Norris, who led Piastri by 24 points in the driver standings, now finds himself on level points with Piastri in second place, with Verstappen closing the gap to Norris to 42 points after clinching victory in Vegas.
The McLaren duo faced disqualification after their cars were found to have skid blocks that were too thin to meet the post-race regulations. This ruling annulled both of their results, causing a shift in the standings.
Verstappen’s triumph over Norris in Vegas, where Piastri finished fourth, was initially a moment of joy for the Red Bull driver. However, it turned into a significant advantage for him when both McLaren drivers were penalized for skid block violations.
Meanwhile, George Russell of Mercedes was promoted to second place in Vegas after initially finishing third, with his teammate Kimi Antonelli moving up to third place. Antonelli’s upward trajectory marks his third podium finish in a remarkable debut F1 season.
Looking ahead, the Qatar Grand Prix is next on the calendar, offering a sprint race before the season concludes in Abu Dhabi. Verstappen faces the challenge of closing the gap further to Norris with only two races and a sprint remaining in the season.
While Norris maintains a lead in the standings, Verstappen sees a glimmer of hope in his pursuit of the championship title. The championship battle could hinge on the final races and potential mishaps for either driver.
If Verstappen continues his winning streak and Norris falters, the championship could swing in favor of the Red Bull driver. However, Norris’ consistent performances earlier in the season and Verstappen’s recent strong showings set the stage for an intense finale to the season.
