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

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 Bull driver 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.

Australian Piastri could equally take back the overall lead if he wins and Norris fails to score.  

VEGAS COULD BE A BIG CHALLENGE FOR MCLAREN

The only problem is McLaren do not expect it to be one of their stronger races, with Mercedes and Ferrari likely in the mix as well as Red Bull.

"I think it was our worst race last year," Norris said, of a track with low grip and possibly the coldest temperatures of the season, after winning in Brazil this month.

"Mercedes were incredibly strong there last year, as well as Red Bull and Ferrari. I think we were the bottom of those four. So we'll wait and see.

"Obviously we've improved a lot of things this year, so I'm not going to be too negative about it."

McLaren have won 14 of 21 so far and Norris is chasing his third win in a row, after Mexico and Brazil. He has now beaten his Australian