F1: Max Verstappen wins the United States Grand Prix, his 15th victory of the season

After the sprint on Saturday, Max Verstappen took part in the United States Grand Prix in Austin on Sunday. Yet sixth on the grid, the now three-time world champion gleaned his fifteenth victory of the season and his 50th career success. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) and Lando Norris (McLaren) complete the podium.

However, the situation looked delicate for Verstappen. Sixth on the grid, the Dutchman had his work cut out for him to get back on a track where the tires are suffering enormously. On pole, Charles Leclerc secretly dreamed of victory but his dream evaporated from the start. Second on the grid, Lando Norris sprang up perfectly when the lights went out and took the lead at the exit of turn 1 ahead of Leclerc, Sainz, Hamilton and Verstappen. The McLaren quickly opened a gap of three seconds while Verstappen sailed in fourth position until the first stops, launched by the Batavian on lap 16. Followed in stride by Norris. At the end of the first stops, the Briton was still in the lead ahead of Verstappen and Hamilton. Victory was going to be decided between the three of them.

On lap 28, Verstappen overtook Norris and took the lead for the first time but the McLaren did not give up. Norris then anticipated his second stop, forcing Verstappen to do the same, to trap Red Bull but the Dutchman came out in front of Norris and thus headed towards victory despite having to deal with brake problems. At the end of the race, after an attacking Grand Prix, Norris was forced to defend against a furious Hamilton who ended up eating him on lap 49 to take second place. Behind, we note the good eighth place of Pierre Gasly (Alpine) who brings four points to the Blues while Esteban Ocon had abandoned prematurely. Starting from the pits, Lance Stroll places his Aston Martin in ninth place while Yuki Tsunoda gives Alpha Tauri the point of tenth place.