Verstappen needs to win big in Las Vegas to stay in title contention

Norris needs to stretch his lead over Verstappen by nine points to ensure the final races of the triple header — Qatar and Abu Dhabi — become a straight title duel between him and second-placed team-mate Piastri

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Even if he cannot win the Formula One title in Las Vegas this weekend, McLaren's Lando Norris could end Max Verstappen's reign on the same floodlit strip where the Red Bulldriver celebrated a fourth successive crown last year.

If Verstappen falls too far behind the Briton after the Saturday night spectacular then McLaren, already constructors’ champions for a second year in a row, will be assured of both titles in the same season for the first time since 1998.

The Dutch driver is third overall and 49 points adrift of championship leader Norris, who makes his career 150th race start on Saturday, with 58 remaining to be won in the last two rounds after Las Vegas.

Norris needs to stretch his lead over Verstappen by nine points to ensure the final races of the triple header — Qatar and Abu Dhabi — become a straight title duel between him and second-placed teammate Oscar Piastri, who is 24 points behind.