US Grand Prix LIVE: F1 race result and reaction tonight as Max Verstappen holds off Lewis Hamilton to win
Follow all the fallout from an exciting race in Austin, Texas
A thrilling Formula 1 title race between Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen continued this evening as the United States Grand Prix played out in Austin, Texas.
Verstappen started in pole position at the Circuit of the Americas, with rival Hamilton joining him in the front row. Dutchman Verstappen entered the race leading the Briton by six points in the drivers’ standings and having reclaimed top spot in the championship battle at this month’s Turkish GP, and the Red Bull driver was able to take another step towards his first F1 title by emerging victorious here.
Although Verstappen was overtaken by Hamilton almost immediately after lights out, he regained first place when the Mercedes man made his first pit stop of the day. That moment even saw Verstappen gain a six-second lead on the defending champion, who spent the rest of the race trying to close down his rival. Hamilton could not erase the gap, however, as Verstappen crossed the line first to double his points advantage over the seven-time title-winner to 12 points with five races left this season. Hamilton came second, while Verstappen’s teammate Sergio Perez rounded out the podium places.
Follow all the fallout from the United States Grand Prix below.
US Grand Prix
Lap 44/56: Hamilton is now within four seconds of his title rival and there’s no further traffic further up the road.
We will be seeing Hamilton going for the overtake of Verstappen over the course of the closing stages!
US Grand Prix
43/56: Verstappen finally gets past the lapped Tsunoda, but Hamilton has cut the gap to 4.5 seconds!
Sainz goes for Ricciardo but the McLaren holds him off after a scrap for positioning! There’s was contact there. “That was dirty and deliberate,” says Sainz.
US Grand Prix
Lap 42/56: Oh, but there we go. Hamilton takes a huge 1.9 seconds out of Verstappen’s lead and is now just 6.2 seconds behind!
It looks like Verstappen got stuck in traffic behind Tsunoda and Raikkonen - while that was compounded for Red Bull by Hamilton setting the new fastest lap of the race.
US Grand Prix
Lap 40/56: As expected, Hamilton hasn’t cut the gap on Verstappen just yet - despite having the fresher tyres.
Both drivers have just set personal bests, although Perez still holds the fastest lap of the race so far.
US Grand Prix
Lap 38/56: Mercedes tell Hamilton: “It’s all about the last three laps.”
Mercedes don’t want Hamilton to go all-out immediately. They think they will be able to strike late on.
US Grand Prix
Lap 37/56: Hamilton pits!
It’s a good stop from Mercedes. Verstappen takes the lead and Hamilton comes out in second, 8.7 seconds behind the Red Bull.
18 laps to go... it’s a race for the line from here!
US Grand Prix
Lap 36/56: Hamilton is dropping off the pace, with Verstappen cutting the gap to under 13 seconds now. When do Mercedes pull Hamilton in?
US Grand Prix
Lap 34/56: Perez is currently the fastest driver out on the track. Verstappen did the last lap 1.3 seconds faster than Hamilton.
Bottas comes in for his second pit stop and comes out ahead of Norris in seventh.
US Grand Prix
Lap 33/56: “We’re still target-plus-six or seven, if we can manage it,” Mercedes tell Hamilton.
This is going to go down to the wire!
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