Surging Verstappen wins US Grand Prix, Piastri fifth
Scott Hunt |
Max Verstappen has continued his march into the Formula One championship battle by cruising to victory at the United States Grand Prix as Oscar Piastri’s points lead dwindles.
The lights-to-flag win on Sunday completed a perfect weekend in Austin for resurgent Red Bull driver Verstappen after the four-time world champion also won Saturday’s sprint from pole.
Lando Norris sealed second after winning a race-long tussle with Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc in the closing stages as the British driver reduced McLaren team-mate Piastri’s championship lead to 14 points after the Australian finished a distant fifth.
Verstappen’s 33 points from the weekend mean he has reduced his own deficit to Piastri to 40 points – from 63 – following the costly collision during the sprint which dumped both McLarens out.
The Red Bull driver had declared his bid for a fifth straight title over before the summer break, but he has slashed the gap to Piastri from 104 points after Zandvoort five races ago.
That race was the last win for the previously-dominant McLaren pair as a genuine three-way title scrap has emerged, with five rounds remaining and 141 points left to fight for.
“For sure, the chance is there,” Verstappen said of the title battle. “We just need to try and deliver these weekends until the end.
“We will try whatever we can. It’s exciting,” he added after his third win in the last four races and 68th of his career.
Piastri will have the most to ponder ahead of Mexico next weekend, having been beaten by both Norris and Verstappen in each of the last four races. He hasn’t finished on the podium in the last three races and could only qualify sixth fastest in Austin.
“I think trying to work out why it didn’t gel with the car this weekend is the first port of call,” said Piastri, having struggled to find “rhythm”.
The Australian was not prepared to contemplate a situation where McLaren may prioritise Norris as they attempt to fend off the threat from Verstappen, saying they both deserved to fight for the title.
“I think it is far too close to pick one of the other,” he added.
Leclerc claimed third with Lewis Hamilton fourth on an improved day for Ferrari as George Russell finished sixth for Mercedes.
Norris’ chances of threatening Verstappen at the Circuit of the Americas were dashed as he was undone by the fast-starting Leclerc, the only one of the top 15 to begin on soft tyres.
The Ferrari driver used his extra grip to charge round the outside of turn one and past Norris on the inside at turn two as Piastri gained a place from sixth and Hamilton jumped to fourth, with Russell slipping two places from fourth.
Russell attempted to hit back at Piastri but was thwarted as Norris’ battle to get past Leclerc allowed Verstappen to pull clear out front.
Norris attacked Leclerc at turn 12 on lap three and four but could find no way through. It was a dream scenario for Verstappen, who had a three-second lead by lap five.
Norris bided his time before launching another sustained attack on Leclerc on lap 15, but the Monegasque’s resolute defence continued to ruin the British driver’s hopes of victory, now over seven seconds behind Verstappen.
Norris finally got the move done on Leclerc on lap 21 but had another concern as he was shown a black-and-white flag for track limits, meaning one more would result in a penalty.
Piastri pitted after lap 30, with Norris in two laps later only to emerge once again behind Leclerc after a sluggish stop.
Norris complained that his used set of soft tyres had “gone” with 16 laps still to go and he dropped away behind Leclerc.
His race engineer told him to cool the tyres before attacking again and he did just that, hunting down Leclerc and getting through at turn 12 with five laps remaining.
PA
