At the US GP, Max Verstappen dominated the race. Here is how the weekend went for the F1 driver and his peers.
Max Verstappen once again proved unstoppable and left his rivals far behind during the US GP. The Dutchman completely ruled the weekend in Austin by winning both the sprint and the main race with ease. Thanks to this latest victory, he’s now just 40 points behind Oscar Piastri. This actually reignites the battle for the world championship.
The US GP and an unstoppable Max Verstappen
The Red Bull driver delivered an almost flawless performance at the Circuit of the Americas. He confirmed his return to form since the latest upgrades to his RB21, which started from pole and never coming under real threat. This marks his 68th career win in Formula 1, his fifth of the season, and that adds 33 points to his tally over the weekend.
Total domination from start to finish
After winning the sprint on Saturday, Verstappen gave his competitors no chance on Sunday. From the first to the final lap of the US Grand Prix, he led with authority and fended off every attempt to challenge him. The Red Bull driver completed all 56 laps without a single mistake, which then cemented his control over the race.
The return of “Mad Max” at the US GP
Since the Italian Grand Prix, Red Bull has rediscovered the technical balance that allows Verstappen to fully unleash his potential. In just four race weekends, he’s recovered 64 points on Oscar Piastri and 44 on Lando Norris. With five Grands Prix and two sprints remaining on the calendar, the four-time world champion can now realistically dream of a fifth straight title.
McLaren under pressure, Ferrari fights back
McLaren, once untouchable at mid-season, is now showing signs of weakness. Both Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri struggled in Austin, unable to match Verstappen’s pace. Their internal battle is heating up, while Ferrari takes advantage to climb back into contention.
Norris saves face, Piastri fades
Lando Norris fought a thrilling battle with Charles Leclerc, then he eventually took second place with five laps to go. The Briton cuts Piastri’s lead by eight points and now sits just 14 points behind in the standings. His Australian teammate, meanwhile, endured a quiet weekend. He finished fifth at the US Grand Prix, where Max Verstappen once again reigned supreme.
Ferrari revives the constructors’ fight
Charles Leclerc made a blistering start thanks to a soft-tire strategy and held off rivals for over 20 laps before yielding to Norris. He still secured another podium for Ferrari, while Lewis Hamilton finished fourth. The Italian team now sits just seven points behind Mercedes in the fight for second in the constructors’ standings.
Max Verstappen delivered a true masterclass at the United States Grand Prix. Therefore, he reaffirmed himself as the man to beat heading into the final stretch of the season. Only 40 points are separating him from Piastri. That, added with his current pace terrifying the paddock, the tension is rising fast as the Mexican GP approaches.