Fraser MasefieldMax Verstappen continued his brilliant run of form to win the US GP from Lando Norris and Charles Leclerc to remain in the hunt for a fifth successive world title.
The Dutchman, who won in Monza and Baku and was second in Singapore, has put in an incredible late season charge to put himself seriously in contention.
Simply. Lovely.@Max33Verstappen đ#F1 #USGP pic.twitter.com/6us6948M6v
â Formula 1 (@F1) October 19, 2025
âIt was an unbelievable weekend for us. I knew that the race wasnât going to be super straightforward. If you look at the whole race, the pace between me and Lando was pretty close,” Verstappen told Sky Sports after the race.
âI think it was in that first stint where we made the difference, I could eke out a bit of a gap and thatâs basically what we kept until the end,â Verstappen told Sky Sports afterwards. âIt wasnât also easy to manage the tyres through both of the stints, but we had to believe and super proud of everyone to deliver a race like this.â
He now lies 40 points behind Piastri, who finished a disappointing fifth behind the second Ferrari of Lewis Hamilton and ahead of Singapore GP winner George Russell. It also means that Norris has closed the gap to Piastri to just 14 points heading into Mexico with five races remaining.
THE TALE OF THE RACE
Verstappen got the ideal start, maintaining position as Leclercâs soft choice paid dividends, the Ferrari rocketing up to second past Norris.
Piastri was also another to benefit, making the move on Singapore GP winner George Russell.
Being stuck behind Leclerc was not in the early Norris game plan, and with Kimi Antonelli exiting the circuit at Turn 15 after contact with Carlos Sainz, a Virtual Safety Car was deployed.
When racing resumed in earnest, it was still Verstappen who held the advantage, but with Leclercâs softs dwindling on performance, Norris was all over the back of the Monegasqueâs gearbox.
Leclerc was the first of the big hitters to pit, diving in on lap 23 after a furious battle with Ferrari teammate Hamilton. It left him down to ninth and slicing through the pack. But with the those starting on the medium compound tyres, the real measure of performance would be when those leaders came in.
Piastri was first to roll the dice, pitting for a used set of softs on lap 31 to take him to the finish line. Hamilton and Norris followed suit, followed by Verstappen on lap 33 and Russell a lap later.
It meant that the race to the finish line was on. Or more likely the race for second, with Verstappen sailing serenely into the distance. With Leclerc’s gamble paying off and Norris facing a final track limits warning or a five second penalty, there was another decision to make for the Englishman. Risk an early challenge on the Ferrari or wait until late.
He left it late. With Norris again all over the back of Leclerc’s gearbox, a textbook move on lap 51 saw him take second place and tighten the screw on his teammate in the championship.
Norris gets it done on Leclerc in the braking zone đ„
That’s P2 for the McLaren! đ#F1 #USGP pic.twitter.com/TzktXDimps
â Formula 1 (@F1) October 19, 2025
âFinally, finally, it took long enough,â said a relieved Norris at the chequered flag. âIt was a good battle with Charles, he fought hard and it was tough. We did everything we could. I thought we had it in the easier way and we got ahead, we did the overcut or we went much longer.
âI expected a slightly easier second attempt to get through but it wasnât the case, so Charles drove a very good race. It was good fun, good battles. We had to take second. Not a lot more we could have done today.â
For Verstappen, the belief is very much still there.
âYeah, for sure, the chance is there. We just have to try to deliver these weekends now until the end. So yes, we will try whatever we can. Itâs exciting.â
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