AUSTIN, Texas — Max Verstappen claimed victory in a dramatic Sprint race at the United States Grand Prix on Saturday, surviving two Safety Cars and a first-lap collision that wiped out both McLaren drivers, Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri.
Verstappen started from pole at the Circuit of the Americas and led from lights to flag, finishing 4.5 seconds ahead of George Russell. The win earned the Dutchman eight championship points, closing his gap to Piastri to 55 points with six races remaining.
Opening Lap Chaos Takes Out McLarens
The drama began immediately at Turn 1, when Sauber’s Nico Hulkenberg clipped Piastri’s McLaren, spinning him into Norris. Both McLarens were forced to retire, though both drivers escaped unharmed.
Fernando Alonso’s Aston Martin was also caught in the melee, forcing an early Safety Car. Hulkenberg dropped to 15th after pitting with front wing damage and later described the crash as a “massive sandwich.”
When the race resumed on Lap 5, Verstappen controlled the restart while Russell, Carlos Sainz, Lewis Hamilton, and Charles Leclerc followed close behind.
Russell Challenge Fails as Safety Cars Define Race
By Lap 8, Russell tried a bold overtake at Turn 12 but ran wide, allowing Verstappen to hold position. “What was that?” the Red Bull driver radioed after the close call, though stewards ruled no further action.
The race was later neutralized again after a collision between Lance Stroll and Esteban Ocon, forcing both drivers to retire. The Sprint ended under the Safety Car, sealing Verstappen’s 13th career Sprint win.
Final Classification
| Pos | Driver | Time | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Max Verstappen (Red Bull) | 37:58.229 | 8 |
| 2 | George Russell (Mercedes) | +0.395s | 7 |
| 3 | Carlos Sainz (Ferrari) | +0.791s | 6 |
| 4 | Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) | +1.224s | 5 |
| 5 | Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) | +1.825s | 4 |
| 6 | Alex Albon (Williams) | — | 3 |
| 7 | Yuki Tsunoda (Red Bull) | — | 2 |
| 8 | Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) | — | 1 |
Antonelli claimed the final point after Ollie Bearman received a 10-second penalty for leaving the track during his battle with the rookie.
What’s Next
The result boosts Verstappen’s title hopes after a strong showing through qualifying and the Sprint. With six races left, the championship fight remains open, though McLaren’s double retirement dealt a heavy blow to their campaign.
The main Grand Prix takes place Sunday at 3 p.m. local time, with Verstappen again starting from pole and aiming to complete a perfect weekend in Austin.
