US Grand Prix LIVE: F1 race result and reaction tonight as Max Verstappen holds off Lewis Hamilton to win
Follow all the fallout from an exciting race in Austin, Texas
A thrilling Formula 1 title race between Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen continued this evening as the United States Grand Prix played out in Austin, Texas.
Verstappen started in pole position at the Circuit of the Americas, with rival Hamilton joining him in the front row. Dutchman Verstappen entered the race leading the Briton by six points in the drivers’ standings and having reclaimed top spot in the championship battle at this month’s Turkish GP, and the Red Bull driver was able to take another step towards his first F1 title by emerging victorious here.
Although Verstappen was overtaken by Hamilton almost immediately after lights out, he regained first place when the Mercedes man made his first pit stop of the day. That moment even saw Verstappen gain a six-second lead on the defending champion, who spent the rest of the race trying to close down his rival. Hamilton could not erase the gap, however, as Verstappen crossed the line first to double his points advantage over the seven-time title-winner to 12 points with five races left this season. Hamilton came second, while Verstappen’s teammate Sergio Perez rounded out the podium places.
Follow all the fallout from the United States Grand Prix below.
US Grand Prix
Lap 17/56
1. Verstappen
2. Hamilton +6.1
3. Perez +11.6
4. Leclerc +22.4
5. Ricciardo +21.2
US Grand Prix
Lap 16/56: Bottas had yet to pit but does so now from fifth position. He comes out behind Vettel, Stroll and Tsunoda. Not where Mercedes want him.
And then there’s some brilliant battling between Raikkonen and Alonso for 13th place! The Finn comes out ahead but Alonso is not happy.
US Grand Prix
Lap 15/56: Gasly has a problem. The Frenchman is slowly making his way back to the pits and has dropped to bottom place.
US Grand Prix
Lap 14/56: Hamilton comes out six seconds behind Verstappen. What a huge swing from Red Bull, all thanks to that decision to pit early.
US Grand Prix
Lap 13/56: Hamilton pits, and Red Bull have successfully executed the undercut! Hamilton comes out behind Verstappen.
US Grand Prix
Lap 12/56: Verstappen: “We should force Hamilton to go long with Checo.”
But Perez pits immediately, and it’s a slow stop from Red Bull this time! He still comes out in third, with Verstappen now in second after Leclerc also pitted.
US Grand Prix
Lap 11/56: Verstappen immediately overtakes Ricciardo into fourth. Leclerc is about three or four seconds ahead.
Hamilton has stayed out and has a five-second lead over Perez.
Verstappen’s message on the Red Bull radio was interesting before his pit stop. He effectively said his tyres were finished.
US Grand Prix
Lap 10/15: Verstappen is coming in for his first pit stop as Red Bull go for the undercut! That’s early, but it’s a good stop from Red Bull, and the Dutchman comes out behind Ricciardo.
US Grand Prix
Lap 9/56: Sainz has been told to let Lando Norris through following the Ferrari-McLaren battle in the first lap, in which it was Riccardo that actually passed the Spaniard into fifth place after he went wide. Not sure how that one will work out...
US Grand Prix
Lap 8/56: “He’s quicker than me right now,” says Hamilton on the Mercedes team radio.
Verstappen: “He’s sliding a lot and I’ve got a lot more pace.”
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