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Despite the excitement around the Las Vegas Grand Prix, McLaren's lead driver is keeping a level head regarding his chances of claiming his maiden world title.

Norris currently holds a 24-point advantage over fellow McLaren driver Oscar Piastri and is ahead of Max Verstappen by nearly fifty points, with only up to 83 points available across the remaining trio of races. However, after staging a remarkable comeback from a significant deficit Piastri after the Dutch Grand Prix in August, Norris is concentrating on executing with the methodical approach that propelled him to the top of the standings.

"Things can quickly turn the opposite way again as much as I don't want it to," he stated. "That's racing, as we all know. Sometimes you also have luck. You can end up unfortunate. Whatever it may be. It's not worth getting excited or dwelling on it. I still do see it as a goal that's quite far away."

Norris has discovered his peak performance at a critical juncture—after difficulties with the car in the first part of the campaign—while Piastri has lost the controlled, almost flawless composure that previously made him seem to be a champion in waiting. Notably, Norris maintained a impressive level of composure all along, insisting despite setbacks—such as his retirement from the Dutch GP—that he would adhere to his gameplan and work each session with the same unwavering attention to detail. It has paid off.

Meanwhile, McLaren have gone to no little effort to try to preserve a fair competition for their two drivers, and it has on occasion been something of difficult experience, especially at Monza when the team instructed Piastri to surrender the runner-up spot to Norris after he had fallen behind because of a delayed tire change. Certain spectators were unhappy with what was seen as the team unnecessarily manipulating their drivers.

Norris has claimed victory in the previous pair of grands prix, in Mexico City and Brazil, and was jeered on the podium at both, yet he remained unmoved. "Once you are on top, many people want to undermine you. They don't want to see you succeeding. I consider it a good thing," he remarked.

"It just amuses me. While standing on the podium in Brazil, I truly loved it. The experience was very enjoyable. You finally feel like you are achieving success.

"I don't mind, provided that I come out on top. As long as I feel like I'm doing it the right manner, which I feel like I am, as long as I am confident I'm putting effort into remaining true to myself and those kinds of things, then I am not concerned with external opinions."

Vegas, on the other hand, must be conquered, and it is not a track suited to the McLaren. It shares characteristics with Montreal and Azerbaijan: minimal aerodynamic grip, chilly conditions, and slippery surfaces. These are the only two tracks in the current championship where the papaya squad have been unable to secure a single podium place, and the leader was cautious once more about their prospects in Nevada. Yet, his objective in the short term is straightforward: finish in ahead of his teammate and the championship tally he needs will come.

Practice Shows Mixed Results for Title Rivals

The Ferrari driver led the times in first practice on what was remained a sandy and very slippery surface. The Williams racer was runner-up, with Verstappen fourth, Norris sixth, and Piastri eighth. During the more indicative evening session of second practice, Norris was quickest from the Silver Arrows of the Italian rookie, with his teammate 14th; however, the practice was interrupted for nearly the last third of track time to inspect a suspected loose manhole cover at the penultimate corner.

The issue is taken seriously on a temporary track where, at the first Nevada GP held in 2023, a dislodged manhole smashed into the Ferrari, severely harming it and leading to the session to be ended.

Mercedes Confirm Ownership Sale

Mercedes have revealed that their boss Toto Wolff has sold a 15% stake in his holding company, representing a 5% share in the squad, to American billionaire George Kurtz. Kurtz is the CEO and founder of the digital protection firm the tech giant. The team principal will remain as boss and could earn as much as £230 million from the sale, with the Brackley-based outfit having been valued at £4.57bn, a record for an F1 team.