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Despite the hype surrounding the Sin City Grand Prix, McLaren's lead driver is maintaining a calm demeanor about his chances of claiming his maiden drivers' championship.

Norris currently holds a 24-point advantage over teammate Oscar Piastri and leads Max Verstappen by 49 points, with only up to 83 points available across the final three events. However, after pulling off a remarkable comeback from a significant deficit Piastri after the Dutch Grand Prix in August, Norris is focused on performing with the methodical approach that lifted him to the top of the standings.

"Things can easily turn in the other direction once more as much as I don't want it to," he stated. "That's motorsport, as we all know. You can get lucky. Other times you end up unfortunate. No matter what happens. It's not worth getting excited or thinking about it. I still view it as something that remains distant."

The 26-year-old has discovered his best form at a critical moment—after difficulties with the vehicle in the opening half of the season—at the same time that Piastri has shed the disciplined, almost flawless ease that previously made him appear to be a future title winner. Notably, Norris kept a impressive level of composure throughout, asserting even in the face of setbacks—like his retirement from the Dutch GP—that he would adhere to his gameplan and approach each session with the same unwavering focus on specifics. It has paid off.

All the while, the team have worked hard to try to maintain a fair competition for their two drivers, and it has on occasion been a rather difficult experience, especially at Monza when the squad directed the Australian to cede the runner-up spot to Norris following he had lost the spot due to a delayed tire change. Certain spectators did not take well to what was seen as McLaren unnecessarily manipulating their competitors.

The championship leader has claimed victory in the last two races, in Mexico City and Brazil, and was booed on the podium at each, yet he remained unmoved. "When you're on top, a lot of individuals want to bring you down. They don't like seeing you winning. I consider it a positive sign," he remarked.

"It amuses me. When I was on the winner's stage in Interlagos, I really enjoyed it. The experience was quite satisfying. You finally sense that you're doing success.

"I don't mind, as long as I come out on top. If I feel like I'm doing it the correct way, which I feel like I am, as long as I feel like I am dedicating effort into being who I am and those kinds of things, then I am not concerned about the rest of it."

Vegas, meanwhile, needs to be conquered, and it is a circuit ideal for the McLaren. It shares similarities with Canada and Baku: low downforce, chilly conditions, and low grip. They are the sole pair of tracks this season where McLaren have been unable to secure a single top-three finish, and the leader was cautious once more about their prospects this weekend. Still, his objective in the immediate future is simple: end the race in front of Piastri and the championship tally he requires will come.

Practice Sees Mixed Results for Title Contenders

The Ferrari driver topped the times in FP1 on what was remained a sandy and very low-grip track. The Williams racer was second, with the Red Bull star fourth, the McLaren ace sixth, and the Australian in eighth. During the more representative evening session of second practice, Norris was quickest from the Mercedes of the Italian rookie, with Piastri 14th; however, the practice lost almost all of the final 20 minutes of running to inspect a reported loose drain cover at the penultimate corner.

This problem is taken seriously on a temporary track where, at the first Las Vegas GP staged in 2023, a dislodged drain cover struck the Ferrari, heavily damaging it and causing the practice to be aborted.

Mercedes Confirm Stake Sale

The eight-time constructors' champions have confirmed that their team principal the Austrian executive has divested a 15% stake in his holding company, equating to a 5% share in the squad, to American billionaire George Kurtz. Kurtz is the chief executive and creator of the cybersecurity company CrowdStrike. Wolff will remain as boss and may receive up to £230m from the sale, with Mercedes having been appraised at £4.57bn, a new high for an Formula 1 constructor.