Max Verstappen made the most of Turn 1 chaos to win F1 US GP sprint, ahead of George Russell and Carlos Sainz.
It was sunny to start F1 sprint in US GP at Circuit of the Americas as Red Bull’s Max Verstappen made a good start to lead at Turn 1. McLaren’s Lando Norris had a slow start but the inside line helped him to maintain second, when Oscar Piastri tried to switchback to take on him.
But the moment he did so, he touched Sauber’s Nico Hulkenberg, who had Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso on his left. This pushed Piastri into Norris, who lost his left-rear and halted there and then. Piastri had a broken suspension and stopped later on, which was same for Alonso.
Hulkenberg lost his front wing but managed to pit to change the damaged parts. It was same for Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll, who had a separate contact behind the melee. The safety car was deployed as Verstappen led from Mercedes’ George Russell and Williams’ Carlos Sainz in the Top 3.
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc was fourth despite momentarily losing it to teammate Lewis Hamilton, who was up to fifth. Williams’ Alexander Albon was sixth from Red Bull’s Yuki Tsunoda, who climbed up to seventh from 18th on the grid, with Haas’ Oliver Bearman in eighth from 16th.
Replays showed Tsunoda taking the inside line to seventh and carrying Hulkenberg’s front wing all the way through Turn 9. Just outside the points, it was Alpine’s Pierre Gasly in ninth from 14th, while Mercedes’ Andrea Kimi Antonelli could only make one place to be 10th.
After a brief run behind the safety car, Verstappen led the way in re-start from Russell and Sainz. The Brit pressed on the Dutchman and made a bold attempt at Turn 12 going for the inside at the apex. But he locked-up and went off taking the Red Bull along in what ended up being a failed attempt.
The move was noted but cleared soon. While that happened, Leclerc was noted for safety car infringement, as Hamilton barged his way through the Monegasque to take fourth in the chase of Sainz for third. Replays showed a moment for the Monegasque which allowed the Brit through.
Albon was sixth from Tsunoda, who had Bearman on his tail, as Antonelli was up to ninth along with Visa Cash App RB’s Liam Lawson in 10th. After an early charge, Hamilton couldn’t catch Sainz, while Albon had Tsunoda closing in on him, with Bearman chased by Antonelli.
The Italian made the move but the Brit fought back in the sequence and seemingly used the off-track line to attack Antonelli. He maintained track position, but the move was under investigation. The race neutralised when Stroll made contact with Haas’ Esteban Ocon at Turn 1.
The Canadian came from far away into Turn 1 taking the inside line and locked-up to hit Ocon. He immediately apologised but they both retired. Bearman, meanwhile, was handed a 10s time penalty. The sprint race ended under the safety car, with another win for Verstappen in F1 US GP.
He led Russell and Sainz in the Top 3, as the Spaniard earned his first sprint podium after a main race podium in Baku. Hamilton was fourth from Leclerc, Albon and Tsunoda, as Antonelli secured the final point in eighth. Lawson missed out in ninth, as Gasly rounded the Top 10.
Sauber’s Gabriel Bortoleto was 11th from Visa Cash App RB’s Isack Hadjar, Hulkenberg, Alpine’s Franco Colapinto and Bearman to round the 15 finishers.
Here’s what was said after Friday in F1 US GP