Verstappen Wins in Austin to Close Championship Gap on Piastri and Norris

Verstappen Dominates in Austin to Pile Pressure on McLaren Duo

Max Verstappen delivered a commanding victory at the United States Grand Prix, keeping his title hopes alive and closing in on championship leader Oscar Piastri. With five races remaining, the Red Bull driver has now cut the gap to 40 points, while Lando Norris, who finished second, trails his teammate by just 14 points.

This was Verstappen’s record-breaking seventh win in Austin and his fifth of the season, equalling Norris’ tally. The reigning champion also took victory in Saturday’s sprint race, outscoring both McLaren drivers significantly.

Three-Way Title Fight Intensifies

The title picture has shifted dramatically:

• Oscar Piastri: Still leads, but struggling for form

• Lando Norris: Consistent podiums keeping pressure on

• Max Verstappen: Gaining momentum at the right time

Verstappen’s back-to-back wins (Sprint + GP) saw him gain 23 points on Piastri in one weekend.

“For sure, the chance is there,” said Verstappen. “We’ll try to deliver every weekend now. It’s exciting.”

Norris Battles Leclerc, But Misses Verstappen Challenge

Lando Norris and Charles Leclerc fought a race-long battle over second place

Starting alongside Verstappen, Norris had hoped to challenge for the win. But a lightning launch by Charles Leclerc on soft tyres saw the Ferrari man jump into second early on, creating a frustrating DRS train for the McLaren driver.

• Norris was repeatedly repelled by Leclerc into Turn 12

• He finally got past with 5 laps to go after cooling his tyres and making a clever dummy move into the braking zone

• Verstappen, however, was long gone

Norris’ engineer Will Joseph: “Back off for a few laps. Cool your tyres, and go again.”

Piastri Fades Again

For the third race in a row, Oscar Piastri couldn’t match Norris’ pace. The Australian finished fifth, behind Hamilton and Leclerc, and only just held off George Russell.

Piastri’s early-season form has waned, allowing both Verstappen and Norris back into the title picture. With Mexico up next, he needs a reset.

Austin Top 10 Finishers

Analysis – “It’s All to Play for Now”

Damon Hill (1996 World Champion)

“Another Verstappen masterclass. He’s relentless. We thought the championship was going to be over, but now it’s wide open. Game on.”

What’s Next?

The grid heads straight to the Mexico City Grand Prix (24–26 October) where the tightest title race in recent memory resumes. With Verstappen surging, Piastri under pressure, and Norris sniffing a maiden title, all eyes are on the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez.