Las Vegas Grand Prix 2025: Verstappen Hits Hard and Reignites the Title Fight

The 2025 season is heading toward its conclusion, and Las Vegas was expected to be a simple stepping stone before the final sprint. Instead, the night race completely reshuffled the cards in the championship battle. Max Verstappen claimed a solid victory and later benefited from a major twist: the post-race disqualification of both McLarens due to excessive plank wear. With only two Grands Prix remaining, the gap at the top has tightened and the momentum of the championship has shifted dramatically.

A tense start to the race

The tone was set immediately at the start. In the opening corner, Verstappen and Norris found themselves side by side, each trying to hold the upper hand. Norris’ late braking forced him off the ideal line, allowing the Red Bull driver to exit the corner ahead.

Behind the leaders, the situation deteriorated quickly. Liam Lawson collided with Oscar Piastri, while Gabriel Bortoleto struck Lance Stroll heavily, forcing both drivers to retire on the spot. These incidents triggered chaos in the midfield and opened opportunities for those able to navigate through it.

Lewis Hamilton did exactly that. Starting from the back after a difficult Saturday, the seven-time world champion capitalized on the turmoil to gain eight places in just a few corners. It was a display of experience and composure that kept him in contention despite early damage.

Verstappen untouchable on the Strip

Once the field settled, Max Verstappen executed his race plan with total control. Quickly isolated at the front, he strung together fast laps and built an enormous gap over Norris, more than 19 seconds at the finish. Through the streets of Las Vegas, the Red Bull appeared to be running in its own category.

Norris still believed he had limited the damage in the championship fight—until the evening took a completely unexpected turn. A few hours after the race, stewards announced the disqualification of both McLarens following technical inspections, citing excessive plank wear. It is a rare but strictly regulated infringement that results in automatic disqualification.

This decision transformed the final classification:
1. Max Verstappen – Red Bull (25 pts)
2. George Russell – Mercedes (18 pts)
3. Andrea Kimi Antonelli – Mercedes (15 pts)

A major result for Mercedes in its fight for the Constructors’ Championship.

Norris still leads, but under pressure

The penalty handed to McLaren has dramatically tightened the championship standings. Max Verstappen, who entered the race 42 points behind, climbs to 366 points, the same total as Oscar Piastri after their disqualification.

Lando Norris remains in the lead, but his advantage drops to just 24 points.

In the Constructors’ standings, Mercedes makes the most of its second and third places. The team now holds a 40-point gap over Red Bull and 53 points over Ferrari, a valuable cushion at this stage of the season.

Next stop Qatar : A high-stakes sprint weekend

The next Grand Prix will take place in Qatar, with a sprint format that could play a decisive role. In total, 33 points will be up for grabs:

• 8 in the sprint race
• 25 in the main Grand Prix

To keep his title hopes strong at Losail, Lando Norris must finish the weekend with at least a 25-point advantage over both rivals. Nothing is guaranteed: with a sprint weekend, tyre management, track evolution and even small incidents can shift the balance in an instant.

Whatever happens, the three-way fight promises to be intense and could well continue until the season finale in Abu Dhabi.