Verstappen’s comeback is becoming increasingly impressive. After the Grand Prix in Zandvoort, he was still 104 points behind World Championship leader Piastri. Four race weekends later, there are only 40. Norris now has 14 points less than his teammate. There are still five Grand Prix to go.
Ideal scenario for Max Verstappen after the start
In contrast to the sprint race on Saturday, there was no chaos in the initial phase. Verstappen again made a good start from pole position and immediately closed the door for Norris, who then lost second place to Leclerc, who started on the softest tire. Piastri, starting from sixth place, won one spot.
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For Verstappen it was an ideal scenario. He quickly drove away from Leclerc in free air and the Ferrari driver held up Norris well. After five laps the Dutchman had already built up a lead of three seconds.
An additional stroke of luck was that contact between Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) and the then retiring Carlos Sainz (Williams) on the seventh lap did not result in a safety car situation, but only in a virtual safety car, so the field did not collapse.
Charles Leclerc fights with Lando Norris
Ferrari competed well in Austin – just like last year – and Piastri was unable to keep up with the pace of Hamilton driving in front of him in what was anyway a difficult weekend for him. The World Cup leader complained about a lot of understeer. In the meantime, Leclerc continued to defend excellently against the attacking Norris, who could not get past for a long time. As a result, Verstappen’s lead increased further.
Norris finally overtook Leclerc on the 21st lap. At that moment the gap with Verstappen was almost eleven seconds. From lap 28 onwards that lead decreased somewhat, but Verstappen was instructed to continue driving as long as possible.
After 32 laps, Norris went in for his – which did not go smoothly – pit stop. Verstappen followed a lap later and remained in the lead. Both drivers changed from the medium to the softest tire, like almost everyone else. Leclerc took over second place from Norris, after the Monegasque had made a much earlier stop.
Max Verstappen controls the lead
Verstappen had to last 23 laps on the softest rubber and the lead over Leclerc after his stop was more than six seconds. Norris was – once again – right behind the Ferrari driver and soon complained about the condition of his softer tires. Verstappen was of course also told this and checked the lead.
In the very warm Austin it indeed seemed that Norris had to let the strong Leclerc go, but he got his soft tires working again and again ended up close behind Leclerc. It led to yet another fight between both drivers. With more than five laps to go, Norris still passed and took second place. The controlling Verstappen had nothing to fear from him anymore and took his fourth victory at the Circuit of the Americas.
Behind Verstappen, Norris, Leclerc and Hamilton, the completely hopeless Piastri finished fifth. With his win in the sprint race, Verstappen has closed the World Cup leader by no less than 23 points this weekend. The next race awaits next week, in Mexico.