Red Bull's Max Verstappen delivered a masterclass at the United States Grand Prix, securing a dominant victory at Austin's Circuit of the Americas on Sunday. The Dutch driver led every lap from pole position, trimming his deficit in the Formula 1 championship standings to 40 points with five races remaining.
McLaren's Oscar Piastri retained his lead in the drivers' standings despite finishing fifth, while teammate Lando Norris claimed second after overtaking Ferrari's Charles Leclerc late in the race. Verstappen's weekend sweep – including Saturday's sprint race win – marks a dramatic turnaround from his 104-point gap in August, reigniting his bid for a fifth consecutive world title.
The race saw intense midfield battles, with Carlos Sainz securing third for Williams and Lewis Hamilton finishing fourth for Ferrari. A mid-race virtual safety car period followed a collision between Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli and Sainz, resulting in grid penalties for the Spanish driver.
With temperatures cooler than expected at 28.6°C (83.5°F), teams navigated tire strategies carefully. McLaren team principal Andrea Stella suggested Norris might have challenged Verstappen more closely without Leclerc's early defensive efforts.
As the championship enters its final stretch, all eyes turn to the Mexican Grand Prix on October 29, where Verstappen aims to continue his momentum against Piastri's 14-point advantage over Norris.
