Max Verstappen ended a lengthy victory drought by triumphing at the United States Grand Prix Sprint, strengthening his lead in the Drivers' Championship. The Red Bull driver, showcasing the effectiveness of his team's recent upgrades, clinched his first win since June, extending his championship advantage by two points to 54.
Verstappen, starting from pole, outpaced his competitors, including title rival Lando Norris, who finished third. Norris made an impressive start, jumping two places from fourth to second, but struggled with tire degradation, allowing Ferrari's Carlos Sainz to pass him on the final lap. Despite late pressure from Sainz's teammate Charles Leclerc, Norris managed to hold onto third. A post-race investigation cleared him of any wrongdoing after a defensive maneuver at Turn 15 drew scrutiny.
Reflecting on his win, Verstappen expressed satisfaction, saying, "It feels a bit like old times. I'm very happy with today. For us, finally we are racing again." His consistent performance throughout the race indicates that Red Bull's upgrades are indeed paying off.
Tyler Tate/T Squared Media House
Oracle Red Bull Racing driver Max Verstappen (rear), of the Netherlands, leads McLaren Formula 1 Team driver Lando Norris (front), of the United Kingdom, through turn two during the Sprint Race of the Formula 1 U.S. Grand Prix auto race at Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas. Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024.
George Russell, who started second, finished fifth, just ahead of Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton. The Mercedes team, despite expectations tied to their upgrades, failed to demonstrate the anticipated pace.
Haas drivers Kevin Magnussen and Nico Hulkenberg secured the final points positions, helping the American team climb to sixth in the Constructors' Championship. The Circuit of the Americas delivered its usual excitement over the 19-lap race, with plenty of on-track battles and strategic maneuvers.
The race began with Norris overtaking Leclerc and Russell at Turn 1. Norris maintained strong pace initially, staying within DRS range of Verstappen until the Dutch driver pulled away by lap five. Ferrari teammates engaged in a fierce battle, with Sainz overtaking Leclerc on the same lap.
Russell's attempt to reclaim second from Norris overheated his tires, allowing both Ferraris to pass him subsequently. As the race progressed, Verstappen solidified his lead, while Norris faced increasing pressure from Sainz and Leclerc.
On the penultimate lap, Sainz capitalized on Norris's tire issues, moving into second. Leclerc attempted to follow, but a wide line by Norris at Turn 12 and an adjusted line at Turn 15 forced Leclerc to evade, handing Norris a third-place finish.
Commenting on the race, Norris stated, "It was a good race. I'm pretty happy with how things ended up. It was a tough one. I thought I could hang onto second but Carlos did a good job." Verstappen crossed the finish line nearly four seconds ahead of Sainz, marking his fourth Sprint win of the season.
While Verstappen enjoys his return to winning form, he still seeks his first full-length race victory since the Spanish Grand Prix in June. The new Sprint format for 2024, allowing teams to adjust setups before full qualifying, promises strategic opportunities for the remainder of the weekend.
