AUSTIN, Texas (AP) - Red Bull’s Max Verstappen won the United States Grand Prix sprint race Saturday to earn his first victory of any kind in nearly five months and keep McLaren’s Lando Norris from chipping away at his lead in the Formula 1 season championship.
Verstappen wins US Grand Prix sprint race to earn 1st win over any kind since June and stretch lead
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) - Red Bull’s Max Verstappen won the United States Grand Prix sprint race Saturday to earn his first victory of any kind in nearly five months and keep McLaren’s Lando Norris from chipping away at his lead in the Formula 1 season championship.
Norris kept Verstappen in sight for 18 of 19 laps at the Circuit of the Americas after he launched from fourth to second out of the race start. But Norris made a costly mistake in the first turn of the final lap that allowed Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz to slip into second.
Finishing third instead of second cost Norris a critical point in the title chase. He now trails Verstappen by 54 points with six grand prix and two sprint races left in the season.
Verstappen is chasing his fourth consecutive title. He started Saturday from pole position and was never threatened for the lead. He won with a nearly four-second gap.