Max Verstappen finally ended his frustrating winless run by converting his pole position into a commanding victory at the US Grand Prix sprint race. This win not only marks his return to form but also extends his championship lead over rival Lando Norris by an additional two points.
Dominant Performance from Verstappen
Verstappen led the race from start to finish, crossing the finish line 3.8 seconds ahead of Carlos Sainz from Ferrari, who managed to overtake Norris on the final lap. Norris held on to third place, just ahead of Charles Leclerc, while George Russell, who started in second, finished fifth. Lewis Hamilton rounded out the top six in the other Mercedes car.
Before this sprint race at the sun-baked Circuit of the Americas, Verstappen had been winless in his last eight outings. However, he showcased his skills and speed in Texas, increasing his title lead from 52 points to 54, with 172 points still available over the final six races of the season.
Norris’s Strong Start and Missed Opportunity
Norris, who qualified fourth for the 19-lap sprint, made a great start, moving up to second position by the first corner. Verstappen defended his lead against Russell while Norris expertly passed Leclerc to maintain his place. However, despite Norris’s strong performance, Red Bull’s upgrades proved too much to handle.
On lap six, Norris faced pressure from Russell but managed to hold his position. Unfortunately for Russell, his race took a turn for the worse on lap 10 when he lost positions to both Sainz and Leclerc, dropping him to fifth while battling issues with his front-left tire.
As the race progressed, McLaren held out hope that Norris might challenge Verstappen. His race engineer, Will Joseph, mentioned, “Verstappen is potentially damaging his rear tires a bit more than we are,” indicating a glimmer of hope for a late-race push.
Tense Final Lap
However, Norris never got close enough to Verstappen, and on the final lap, he made a critical mistake under pressure from Sainz. Carrying too much speed into the first corner allowed the Ferrari driver to slip past, costing Norris valuable points in his pursuit of the championship.
The tension heightened in the final moments when Leclerc nearly collided with Norris after losing control of his Ferrari, sparking complaints about Norris’s positioning under braking. Fortunately, both drivers avoided disaster and finished the race.
In the end, it was Verstappen who left the track with a smile, claiming his first victory of any kind since the Spanish Grand Prix on June 23. As the championship race heats up, all eyes will be on Verstappen and Norris in the upcoming rounds.
