Overview
- Max Verstappen won both the sprint and the United States Grand Prix from pole, finishing about eight seconds ahead of Lando Norris with Charles Leclerc third and Oscar Piastri fifth.
- The title race tightens into a three-way contest: Piastri leads on 346 points, Norris has 332 (−14), and Verstappen 306 (−40), with roughly 114 points available across five weekends and two sprints.
- McLaren’s decision to extend Norris’s first stint dropped him behind Leclerc before a late pass restored second, drawing fresh criticism of the team’s race strategy.
- A sprint collision saw Piastri hit Nico Hülkenberg and then tag Norris, eliminating both McLarens, as Verstappen took the sprint win.
- Piastri said he has no clear explanation for his lack of pace, and team principal Andrea Stella said McLaren will analyze car setup and driving data ahead of Mexico and Brazil.