Verstsappen Fends Hamilton for US Grand Prix Win

Max Verstappen’s win of the US Grand Prix, his 15th of the season and 50th in his Formula One career, was any but a sure thing.  The Dutchman started in sixth position, endured breaking problems throughout the race, and fended off Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton in the closing seconds. 

“I think the whole race I was struggling with the brakes. That made the race a bit tougher. It was very close at the end,” Verstappen said. “It’s incredible to win my 50th grand prix here. Very proud. Of course, we will keep trying to push for more.”

The win was Verstappen’s third consecutive at the Circuit of the Americas (COTA) in Austin. 

Verstappen’s performance was near-flawless the entire weekend.  He swept all heats in the Sprint Shootout, and lead the Sprint dash from end-to-end.  His only mistake occurred in the Friday qualifiers for the Grand Prix where he exceeded track limits on Turn 19. 

Hamilton finished 2.225 seconds behind Verstappen, proving-out Mercedes’ last major equipment upgrade of the season.  Hamilton began the race in the #3 position

After a tire change Hamilton pursued McLaren’s Lando Norris and claimed second place  with a few laps to go.  Hamilton threatened, but could not pass Verstappen before the final flag. 

Norris finished in third position, 10.730 seconds behind, and Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz in fourth  at +15.134 second.  Norris and Sainz were position #2 and #4 in the starting grid. 

Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, starting from the pole position finished in the 6th place (+24.662s). 

About two hours after the conclusion of the race, track steward announced that Hamilton’s and Leclerc’s skid blocks “to be not in compliance” with the rules and were disqualified.  The skid block was introduced into Formula One in 1994 to ensure cars weren’t run too close to the ground. 

Both the Mercedes and Ferrari team concurred with steward findings.  Concluding the high wear on the skid pads was probably a result of the bumpy track conditions at COTA and the short turn-around between the Sprint race and the Grand Prix did not allow for a proper set-up and check of the cars.  

Norris and Sainz were awarded the second and third podium positions because of the steward’s finding.