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Motorsport

Max Verstappen championship support blows up as McLaren lose big in Las Vegas

Support for Max Verstappen for the drivers' championship has increased after McLaren's double disqualification from the Las Vegas Grand Prix blew the title fight wide open.

As Verstappen claimed another victory under the neon lights of the Las Vegas street circuit, Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri's second and fourth-place finishes turned into disqualifications for excessive plank wear.

With a P2 in Las Vegas, Norris temporarily extended his lead in the championship to 30 points over Piastri in second. But the disqualification leaves the Briton heading into the final two rounds of the season with 24 points over Piastri and Verstappen, who is now equal on points to the Australian.

Fans have shared their championship winner predictions on a Motorsport.com post, with the majority backing the Red Bull driver or current championship leader Norris to clinch the title.

Prior to the disqualifications, Verstappen discussed his title hopes.

"It's still a big gap but we always just try to maximise everything that we've got and this weekend that was first," the Dutchman said. "In the upcoming weekends we will try to win the race and at the end of Abu Dhabi we will see where we end up.

"I'm very proud of everyone. We've had a really up and down season and tough times but also really beautiful moments. We learned a lot throughout the season and that's very valuable for the upcoming years.

Lando Norris, McLaren, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, Carlos Sainz, Williams (Photo by: Rudy Carezzevoli / Getty Images)

"It's something we'll cling on to and improve even more to come back stronger for next season and put up a fight from the start of the year in the championship. We are enjoying it now and will see next week what we can do."

Formula 1 now heads to Qatar for the first of the final two rounds of the season. Two grands prix and one sprint race remain.

Photos from Las Vegas GP - Race

Lando Norris, McLaren, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

Las Vegas GP - Saturday, in photos

Magic Johnson arrives in the Paddock

Las Vegas GP - Saturday, in photos

Jay-Z on the Pirelli hot laps grid

Las Vegas GP - Saturday, in photos

Cynthia Erivo at Pirelli Hot Laps with Jenson Button

Las Vegas GP - Saturday, in photos

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull Racing Team

Las Vegas GP - Saturday, in photos

A'ja Wilson arrives in the Paddock

Las Vegas GP - Saturday, in photos

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

Las Vegas GP - Saturday, in photos

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

Las Vegas GP - Saturday, in photos

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

Las Vegas GP - Saturday, in photos

Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls Team, Pierre Gasly, Alpine, Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls Team

Las Vegas GP - Saturday, in photos

Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls Team, Pierre Gasly, Alpine, Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls Team

Las Vegas GP - Saturday, in photos

Lando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLaren

Las Vegas GP - Saturday, in photos

Lando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLaren

Las Vegas GP - Saturday, in photos

Oscar Piastri, McLaren, Pierre Gasly, Alpine

Las Vegas GP - Saturday, in photos

Oscar Piastri, McLaren, Pierre Gasly, Alpine

Las Vegas GP - Saturday, in photos

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

Las Vegas GP - Saturday, in photos

Flavio Briatore, Executive Advisor of Alpine F1 talks with Naomi Campbell

Las Vegas GP - Saturday, in photos

Toto Wolff, Mercedes

Las Vegas GP - Saturday, in photos

Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing

Las Vegas GP - Saturday, in photos

Zak Brown, McLaren

Las Vegas GP - Saturday, in photos

Carlos Sainz, Williams

Las Vegas GP - Saturday, in photos

Frederic Vasseur, Ferrari

Las Vegas GP - Saturday, in photos

Lando Norris, McLaren

Las Vegas GP - Saturday, in photos

Terry Crews

Las Vegas GP - Saturday, in photos

Lando Norris, McLaren, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

Las Vegas GP - Saturday, in photos

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

Las Vegas GP - Saturday, in photos

Oscar Piastri, McLaren, Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls Team

Las Vegas GP - Saturday, in photos

Pierre Gasly, Alpine, Gabriel Bortoleto, Sauber

Las Vegas GP - Saturday, in photos

Fans

Las Vegas GP - Saturday, in photos

Marshals clean up debris on track

Las Vegas GP - Saturday, in photos

Gabriel Bortoleto, Sauber

Las Vegas GP - Saturday, in photos

Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls Team

Las Vegas GP - Saturday, in photos

Lando Norris, McLaren, George Russell, Mercedes

Las Vegas GP - Saturday, in photos

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

Las Vegas GP - Saturday, in photos

Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull Racing

Las Vegas GP - Saturday, in photos

Gabriel Bortoleto, Sauber

Las Vegas GP - Saturday, in photos

Lando Norris, McLaren

Las Vegas GP - Saturday, in photos

Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing

Las Vegas GP - Saturday, in photos

Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing

Las Vegas GP - Saturday, in photos

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

Las Vegas GP - Saturday, in photos

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

Las Vegas GP - Saturday, in photos

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls Team

Las Vegas GP - Saturday, in photos

Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing

Las Vegas GP - Saturday, in photos

Carlos Sainz, Williams

Las Vegas GP - Saturday, in photos

Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing

Las Vegas GP - Saturday, in photos

Alexander Albon, Williams

Las Vegas GP - Saturday, in photos

Lando Norris, McLaren

Las Vegas GP - Saturday, in photos

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

Las Vegas GP - Saturday, in photos

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

Las Vegas GP - Saturday, in photos

Lando Norris, McLaren, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

Las Vegas GP - Saturday, in photos

Lando Norris, McLaren, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

Las Vegas GP - Saturday, in photos

Lando Norris, McLaren, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

Las Vegas GP - Saturday, in photos

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

Las Vegas GP - Saturday, in photos

Lando Norris, McLaren, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, George Russell, Mercedes

Las Vegas GP - Saturday, in photos

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

Las Vegas GP - Saturday, in photos

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

Las Vegas GP - Saturday, in photos

Lando Norris, McLaren

Las Vegas GP - Saturday, in photos

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

Las Vegas GP - Saturday, in photos

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

Las Vegas GP - Saturday, in photos

Lando Norris, McLaren, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, George Russell, Mercedes

Las Vegas GP - Saturday, in photos

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

Las Vegas GP - Saturday, in photos

Lando Norris, McLaren, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, George Russell, Mercedes

Las Vegas GP - Saturday, in photos

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

Las Vegas GP - Saturday, in photos

Formula 1
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