Verstappen Wins Las Vegas GP as Norris and Piastri Disqualified

The Formula 1 Heineken Las Vegas Grand Prix 2025 delivered one of the most dramatic finishes in recent memory, with Max Emilian Verstappen crossing the line first — only to see the podium reshuffled hours later after two top contenders were disqualified. The race, held on Saturday, November 22, 2025, at the Las Vegas Street Circuit, wrapped up under the neon glow of the Strip, drawing millions of viewers on ESPN as the penultimate race of the 2025 Formula 1 season.

The Race That Changed Everything

At 8:00 PM PST, the lights flickered on the 6.201-kilometer circuit, and the field roared into the first turn. Max Verstappen, starting from pole, immediately asserted dominance, building a lead that seemed unassailable. By lap 40, he was over 20 seconds clear of George Russell in second, with Kimi Antonelli clinging to third. But the real story was unfolding behind him.

Lando Norris, the McLaren driver who’d battled Verstappen all season, was in fourth, just 1.8 seconds behind Antonelli and closing fast. The ESPN broadcast crew, including veteran analyst Ted Kravitz, noted his aggressive moves — and then, suddenly, the tone shifted. "Lando Norris has been asked to lift and coast all the way to the flag," Kravitz said. "They’re managing the gap. He’s not racing anymore." The checkered flag fell at 9:21:08 PM PST. Verstappen celebrated. Russell smiled. Antonelli raised his arms. But within 90 minutes, the FIA announced a bombshell: both Norris and his teammate Oscar Jack Piastri were disqualified for violating Article 27.1 of the Sporting Regulations — unauthorized team radio instructions to manipulate race position.

Why the Disqualification? The Hidden Rule

The exact wording of the violation remains undisclosed, but sources close to the FIA suggest Norris and Piastri were instructed to slow their pace to help another McLaren driver gain points — a clear breach of the "no team orders affecting race outcome" rule. It’s not the first time this has happened. In 2018, Ferrari was fined for similar team order violations in Malaysia. But in 2025, with the championship still wide open, the FIA took a hard line.

That meant Antonelli moved up to second, Leclerc to third, and Sainz to fourth. The real beneficiary? Lando Norris — not because he won, but because he still leads the drivers’ standings by 14 points over Verstappen heading into the final three races. "It’s a bitter pill," Norris said in a post-race interview. "I didn’t break the rules on purpose. But I’ll take the points hit. We’ll come back harder."

The Broadcast and the Time Zone Confusion

While ESPN aired the race live at 11:00 PM ET on Saturday, the Formula 1 Heineken Las Vegas Grand Prix 2025 official website listed the date as November 23 — because in Europe, the race ended just after midnight. The Formula One World Championship Limited, based in London, uses UTC+0 for all official records. So while fans in Las Vegas watched the checkered flag on Saturday night, fans in London saw it on Sunday morning.

ESPN’s pre-race show, "Formula 1: Grand Prix Sunday," began at 7:55 PM ET — a clever branding nod to the European date. Viewers didn’t just get the race; they got a 90-minute deep dive into the championship battle, with exclusive interviews from Red Bull, Mercedes, and Ferrari garages.

The Circuit and the Spectacle

The Las Vegas Street Circuit — a temporary marvel built along the Strip — remains one of F1’s most visually stunning tracks. Spanning from the Bellagio fountains to the Las Vegas Convention Center, the circuit’s 50 laps cover 309.958 kilometers of asphalt lined with billboards, hotel towers, and screaming fans. The fastest lap — 1:33.365 — was set by Verstappen during qualifying, a testament to how much grip the track gained over the weekend.

Organized by F1 Events LLC and sponsored by Heineken International B.V., the event drew an estimated 180,000 spectators over the weekend — nearly double the 2023 turnout. The economic impact? Over $2.3 million in local spending, according to the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority.

What’s Next? The Championship Comes Down to Qatar

With Verstappen now 14 points behind Norris in the standings, the title fight is alive. The final race — the Qatar Airways Qatar Grand Prix — kicks off on November 28, 2025, at the Losail International Circuit in Doha. The track, known for its long straights and high tire wear, favors Mercedes and Ferrari — teams that both outperformed Red Bull in last year’s night race.

"It’s not over," said Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff. "We’ve seen what happens when you underestimate Lando. And we’ve seen what happens when you ignore the rules. This season? It’s going to end with fireworks."

Behind the Scenes: The Power Players

The Formula One World Championship Limited — owned by Liberty Media Corporation — continues to expand F1’s U.S. footprint. With three American races in 2025 (Miami, Las Vegas, Austin), the series is now firmly embedded in the American sports calendar. ESPN’s exclusive broadcast deal, worth over $1.5 billion over seven years, has transformed how American fans experience F1 — with real-time data overlays, in-car cameras, and behind-the-scenes access that rivals NFL or NBA coverage.