F1, U.S. GP: Max Verstappen wins and shortens again, Charles Leclerc gets on the podium

Max Verstappen ends a perfect weekend in Austin, winning after Saturday’s Sprint also the U.S. Grand Prix. The Reb Bull driver thus continued his chase for a world title that only a few weeks ago seemed to have to be played out entirely at home in McLaren.

Lando Norris limited the damage by finishing second, while Oscar Piastri ended the race in fifth position.

Closing the podium was the Ferrari of Charles Leclerc, protagonist of an excellent start and a fight with Norris until the last laps, when the Briton managed first to overtake the Monegasque and then to impose his pace, winning the place d’honor. Good fourth place for Lewis Hamilton, who was able to recover one position from the start and finish ahead of world leader Piastri.

Closing in the points zone, from sixth to eighth place, were George Russell in a Mercedes, Yuki Tsunoda on the other Red Bull and Nico Hulkenberg on Kick Sauber. From ninth onward, the standings see Ollie Bearman (Haas), Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin), Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls), Lance Stroll (Aston Martin), Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes, protagonist despite himself in a contact in the opening bars with Carlos Sainz of Williams, the day’s only retiree), Alex Albon (Williams), Esteban Ocon (Haas), Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls), Franco Colapinto (Alpine), Gabriel Bortoleto (Kick Sauber) and Pierre Gasly (Alpine).

In the overall standings, Piastri leads with 346 points, ahead of Norris with 332 and Verstappen with 306. Further back are the others, with George Russell fourth with 252, Charles Leclerc with 192 points, Lewis Hamilton with 142 and Kimi Antonelli with 89. With five race weekends still to go, McLaren is already constructors’ champion for the second consecutive year.