F1 US Grand Prix: Verstappen reignites title hopes with dominant win in Austin
Austin: Max Verstappen has declared that he still believes in his Formula 1 world title chances after a flawless performance at the United States Grand Prix 2025 in Austin. The Red Bull driver completed a perfect weekend by winning both the Saturday sprint and Sunday’s main race, cutting his deficit to championship leader Oscar Piastri to 40 points.
The Dutchman, who led from lights to flag, capitalised on a fierce battle between Charles Leclerc and Lando Norris for second place. Verstappen’s strong pace and strategy ensured he maintained control throughout the race, securing his 68th career victory and boosting Red Bull’s position in the constructors’ standings.
“It’s been an incredible weekend for us,” Verstappen said after the race. “The pace between Lando and me was very close, but the first stint made the difference. We held on until the end. The chance is there if we can produce this kind of weekend until the end. It’s exciting, and I hope to make it exciting until the end of the season.”
Lando Norris finished second after an intense duel with Leclerc, reducing his own gap to McLaren teammate Piastri to 14 points, while the Australian crossed the line in fifth place after a challenging race. Leclerc secured third for Ferrari, followed by Lewis Hamilton in fourth.
The results mean that Verstappen has scored as many points as both McLaren drivers combined over the last five Grands Prix, putting him firmly back in contention for the title as the season enters its final stretch.
Meanwhile, Formula 1 confirmed an extension of the Austin Grand Prix at the Circuit of the Americas until 2034, continuing its run as one of the sport’s most attended events, with nearly half a million fans annually.
Elsewhere, Carlos Sainz was handed a five-place grid penalty for the upcoming Mexican Grand Prix following a collision with Kimi Antonelli in Austin.
The 2025 Formula 1 season saw another major twist at the United States Grand Prix, where Max Verstappen dominated the weekend with two victories. Having won the sprint race after both McLaren drivers crashed out, the Red Bull star followed up with a commanding win in Sunday’s main event.
The top ten results from the race were:
- Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
- Lando Norris (McLaren)
- Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
- Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari)
- Oscar Piastri (McLaren)
- George Russell (Mercedes)
- Yuki Tsunoda (Red Bull)
- Nico Hulkenberg (Sauber)
- Ollie Bearman (Haas)
- Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin)
After the race, Oscar Piastri admitted he was under growing pressure from both Verstappen and Norris but said he remained confident of retaining his lead. “I’d still rather be where I am than the other two,” he told reporters. “Max and Red Bull have found a lot of pace since the summer break, but I still believe I can win the championship.”
Jenson Button, former world champion, commented that the pressure on Piastri would “build when things start going wrong,” highlighting the mental challenges of a title fight.
With just a few races left in the 2025 season, Verstappen’s resurgence has reignited excitement in the championship battle, setting up a thrilling finale between Red Bull and McLaren.