F1 Las Vegas GP live commentary and updates - race

THAT'S IT FROM LAST VEGAS

Onwards to Qatar next weekend – which is a sprint round, adding an extra bit of spice to the world championship mathematics. We'll leave you with an image of a man who's been flying this weekend…

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

Photo by: Clive Rose / Getty Images

Meanwhile Gabriel Bortoleto has been hit with a five-place grid drop and two penalty points for his Turn 1 assault on Lance Stroll.

Time for the Bellagio Fountain Show Presented By Disney.

From a podium in the pool, Mickey Mouse pretends to conduct the Bellagio fountains to the strains of Fantasia and the F1 theme tune.

In the grandstands, wise members of the crowd begin to scarper.

"We've had a tough time, an up and down season, but also some beautiful moments," says Max.

"I was just too punchy," says Norris – not actually what George Michael sang, Lando, but keep working on it.

Russell explains that he took too much out of his tyres on the first laps out of the pits and wasn't sure if he could get to the end.

"Not my best performance out there," says Norris. "When the other guy wins by 20s he's done a better job."

Well, this isn't awkward at all.

Hollywood thesp Sam Worthington joining David Coulthard for the post-race interviews. Who will be acting as whose avatar?

They'll be pleased to get out of that Lego taxi – suspension seems to be set to Shake, Rattle & Roll.

And there it is. The Cadillac. In hot pink!

Lando and George join Max. Will they serenade Terry with a rendition of Hot Chocolate's seminal 1970s hit Heaven Is In The Back Seat Of My Cadillac...?

We're reliably informed that Terry Crews will be acting as chauffeur in a Lego Cadillac for the podium ceremonials.

What to do with George Russell's power steering mechanism? Return To Sender, of course...

Are You Lonesome Tonight? The contents of Norris's fuel tank certainly fits that description. 

Phew! Verstappen finishes 20.741s ahead of Norris, who crosses the line 2.8s ahead of Russell.

Just to be emphatic, Max pops in the fastest lap of the race on the final tour. Winning this race was the best he could do to keep the title race alive, but Norris finishing second blunts that gain somewhat.

The timesheets back this up. Norris has been told to start fuel-saving so he's lost 10s to Max while lifting and coasting.

Meanwhile anybody expecting a late Norris charge will be All Shook Up – Verstappen has been told Lando is managing an issue.

No doubt some readers will react to that previous comment in the style of Elvis Presley and harrumph Don't Be Cruel...

In P9, Hulkenberg is pulling away from Hamilton to the tune of a second a lap, as Ocon closes in on the Ferrari at a similar rate.

Wethinks the next interaction with John Elkann will be uglier than a kebab shop fist fight.

Five laps to go and Norris is 6s off Verstappen. Looks like the order is set to the flag. Russell a further 11.7s in arrears.

ICYMI: Antonelli has done all but two laps of this race on those hards.

"Let's do whatever we've got to do," Norris tells his race engineer.

"OK, just do more" comes the reply.

But it's in a very moderate tone, unlike the famous words of Sir Patrick Head to Antonio Pizzonia: "Whatever it is that you do, do it better..."

Hulkenberg in P9 only running a couple of tenths faster than Hadjar so he's unlikely to make up what is currently a 6.5s deficit by the end of the race.

If Piastri and Leclerc can get by Antonelli, they'll have to make up nearly 10s to get to Russell.

As it stands, if Antonelli can stay ahead then he'll be classified P7 behind Sainz, who is within 5s of this battle. Hadjar is another 10s behind.

So with 10 laps remaining this is very much Verstappen's race to lose – which he won't, of course. He's 5.8s in front.

Can Antonelli make it to the end on those hards? It's slightly academic since he'll be hit with a five-second penalty. So even if he can hold Piastri and Leclerc off, he'll be classified behind them.

What he is doing is protecting Russell's podium place.

Norris takes a tenth of a second out of Verstappen on lap 38 but Max hits back with another fastest lap next time around, two tenths faster.

Piastri and Leclerc have hunted down Antonelli but he's making life difficulty for them. Piastri looks to the outside at Turn 14 at the end of lap 38, Antonelli covers the line, and Piastri has to collect a moment of oversteer. That brings Leclerc further into play.

Verstappen sets the fastest lap of the race, having been instructed on the radio to cease all management.

Albon pits at the end of lap 36. That's his fourth visit of the race – he should apply for a loyalty card.

Well he's not going to be coming in again because they;re wheeling his car into the garage.

Russell and Antonelli are now P3 and P4, separated by 11.6s on track – but their tyres are separated by 32 laps in terms of life.

Norris now 5.4s behind Verstappen and set the fastest lap of the race last time around, taking two tenths out of Max.

Verstappen has been apprised of Norris's mission.

Verstappen responds with a personal best lap on L33.

Norris goes by Russell at Turn 14. Around the outside!

Norris asks the pitwall if he should overtake. He is told to do so. "We're going to get Max."

Norris now 0.5s off Russell.

Russell tells his pitwall "I know Norris will be quick but I don't want to risk the podium".

Well, as Kenny Rogers memorably warbled, you've got to know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em.

So, to recap, Hulkenberg and Hamilton are the outliers in the top 10, having started on hards and shifting to mediums.

We'll see how this pans out by Hamilton's pace on those new mediums is a second and a half slower than his team-mate on seven-lap-old hards.

The Hulk comes out 3.6s ahead of Hamilton. Yes, a Sauber is racing a Ferrari...

Hamilton emerges P10, 1.6s ahead of Alonso, who has been making progress since his early stop.

Hulkenberg pits at the end of lap 30.

That gives Hamilton 20 laps on the mediums – a lot to do, but he was on the radio saying his tyres were spent.

As we type, Hamilton pits at the end of lap 29.