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
Gasly’s car been given the all clear. The AlphaTauri is up and running.
Toto Wolff tells Sky Sports that the tyres will be “melting” on the hot track surface in Austin, Texas today.
US Grand Prix
There seems to be an issue with Pierre Gasly’s car. It looks like he might have been hit by a mechanical issue and AlphaTauri are desperately trying to fix it.
US Grand Prix
A huge US flag is flown over the track as we pause for the national anthem. This feels like a huge occasion at the Circuit of the Americas today, by far the biggest US Grand Prix many in F1 have ever seen.
This from George Russell: “It’s warm out there. The tyres are going to be tricky. I think it will be a two-stop strategy for everyone.”
US Grand Prix
Christian Horner to Sky Sports on what he told Verstappen and Perez ahead of today’s race: “Go for it - get round the first corner and get stuck in. We need both guys to get a good start,” he says.
Moments before, Horner met former NBA champion Shaquille O’Neal, while other stars on the grid include Rory McIlroy and Ben Stiller.
US Grand Prix
The cars are on the starting grid and we have less than 30 minutes to go until lights out at the United States Grand Prix.
Sergio Perez had some drama with a leaky water bottle in his cockpit, but it seems the issue has been resolved by Red Bull.
There’s a packed crowd in Austin on what has turned out to be a blistering hot day in Texas.
US Grand Prix: Pit-stop strategies?
It’s expected that the leading drivers will opt for a two-stop pit strategy at the Circuit of the Americas today, with potential pit-stop windows opening up from laps 10-17, and then laps 32-37.
After an overcast morning in Texas, the sun has broken through and track temperatures are expected to increase to 40 degrees. That could result in high degradation levels on the tyres today.
US Grand Prix
Formula 1 has enjoyed its return to the United States for the first time since 2019, after last season’s race was cancelled due to Covid-19.
The sport has experienced a boom in popularity in those two years, and we’re set for a packed home crowd in Austin for the latest instalment of his dramatic title race. Serena Williams and Megan Thee Stallion are leading the “celebrity watch” standings so far.
US Grand Prix: Hamilton and Verstappen on first corner
After two on-track collision so far this season, all eyes will be on Verstappen and Hamilton’s run to the first corner at the Circuit of the Americas. Naturally, both drivers were asked about another potential head-to-head in Austin today.
Hamilton: “I hope we make it through turn one and we get a good race. It is all fun and games. We are going to have fun tomorrow, and give it everything as you would expect. It is no real difference to any other part of the season.”
Verstappen: “I don’t see why we have to keep bringing this up. It is not like we are the only ones who have touched in this sport. These things happen unfortunately. But we are on the front row again and everyone is just expecting a great race and as drivers that is what we expect, too. We will be professional.”
US Grand Prix: Verstappen beats Hamilton to pole
In case you missed the action from qualifying yesterday, you missed a brilliant final lap from Max Verstappen to pip Hamilton to US Grand Prix pole.
After Sergio Perez had set the early pace, Verstappen beat Hamilton by two tenths, with the seven-time world champion unable to respond to the Dutchman’s pace on the final lap.
Valtteri Bottas finished fourth but will start ninth after taking an engine penalty.
Max Verstappen beats Lewis Hamilton to pole position at the United States GP
The Red Bull driver also leads his Mercedes rival in the world title race.
A thrilling Formula 1 title race between Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen will continue this evening as the United States Grand Prix plays out in Austin, Texas.
Verstappen will start in pole position at the Circuit of the Americas, with rival Hamilton joining him in the front row. Dutchman Verstappen leads the Briton by six points in the drivers’ standings with six races left this season – including today’s event – having reclaimed top spot in the championship battle at this month’s Turkish GP. The Red Bull driver appears to be on track for his first ever F1 title, but he will need to navigate the remaining races without incident in order to dethrone seven-time champion Hamilton, and there is no guarantee of that.
Verstappen and Hamilton have already collided twice this season, including on the opening lap of the British GP this summer, when the Mercedes man went on to claim the victory while Verstappen could not continue. The pair then took each other out of the Italian GP in September, but it is the first of those two incidents that will leave fans wondering whether the rivals can make it through the opening corners in Texas without losing their cool.
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