Plus: Oscar Piastri’s difficulties continue, Sainz goes from hero to zero.
Max Verstappen showcased a flawless weekend at the United States Grand Prix, reinforcing his charge towards a championship that seemed out of reach just two months ago. Autoweek highlights the key moments from the Circuit of the Americas where the reigning champion left a significant mark.
Maximum attack
Sprint Pole. Sprint Win. Pole position. Grand Prix victory. Leading every lap. Verstappen’s weekend was nothing short of a masterclass, cementing his place as a genuine contender for a fifth consecutive world title. In just four races, he has trimmed his deficit to Oscar Piastri from 104 points down to 40, now looming over a McLaren squad that has faltered despite its Constructors’ triumph.
After doubting Red Bull’s ability to win post-Hungary, Verstappen’s outlook changed thanks to the RB21 floor upgrade and a stronger baseline setup, transforming the team’s competitiveness. He’s been a podium contender at every round since, narrowly missing a sweep in the last four races only due to George Russell’s standout performance in Singapore.
“We found a good way with the car,” Verstappen explained. “We added upgrades, but more importantly, we better understood where the car needed to perform. Each weekend we aim to hit that target. Some weekends it’s smoother than others, but overall, the past few events have been far simpler than before. Now we need to keep extracting that performance every race.”
Next up: Mexico City, where Verstappen has historically excelled, and São Paulo for another Sprint weekend where any rain—as in 2024—would likely favor him. Then comes Las Vegas, a circuit expected to challenge McLaren, before trips to Qatar and Abu Dhabi. While no driver has ever overcome a 104-point gap to win the title, Verstappen’s skill, Red Bull’s upgrades, and McLaren’s struggles make the improbable increasingly plausible.
“I think we need perfection to stay in the fight,” Verstappen said. “We’ve closed the gap a lot, but margins remain tiny. Every weekend demands flawless execution, and that’s our goal until the season ends.”
Norris prevails in Leclerc battle
The most thrilling subplot at COTA was the fight for second place between Lando Norris and Charles Leclerc. Each chose different tire strategies—Norris on medium/soft and Leclerc on soft/medium. Leclerc jumped ahead initially, but Norris fought back mid-race, only to be momentarily undone by Leclerc’s undercut from an earlier pit stop.
In the final laps, Norris regained second, securing vital points despite a winless streak since the summer break, cutting Piastri’s title lead to 14 points.
“A solid result overall,” Norris reflected. “For a moment, I didn’t think second was possible. Leclerc seemed just too fast, but reclaiming the position felt perfect.”
McLaren team principal Andrea Stella suggested Norris might have challenged Verstappen for the win had he not fallen behind Leclerc at the start.
“Without the early battle with Charles, I think Lando had the pace to win,” Stella said. “It’s reassuring to see he could fight for victory.”
Stella also noted McLaren could have unlocked more speed from the MCL39 if not for cautious ride height choices on COTA’s bumpy surface, exacerbated by a lack of data from their double first-lap Sprint exit. Regardless, McLaren faces an urgent task in halting Verstappen’s momentum.
Piastri’s difficult run continues
Since his controlled triumph in post-summer Zandvoort, Oscar Piastri has struggled for consistency. Italy offered a muted performance, Azerbaijan a disaster, Singapore a fourth-place finish, and Austin a fifth that marked his least competitive showing of the season.
Piastri never truly challenged over the weekend at a circuit where he has historically struggled; sixth on the grid translated into fifth on race day, the only gain coming past Russell at the start. In the four races since Zandvoort, he’s amassed just 37 points versus Verstappen’s 101.
“Qualifying has been tough these past weekends, and this weekend I just didn’t click with the car,” Piastri said. “I had a clean session, but the pace wasn’t there, and the race mirrored that.”
He added that the circuit’s mix of high-speed and tight corners, with very little in the medium-speed range, hasn’t played to his strengths historically, making the challenge unsurprising yet still frustrating.
“My focus is on understanding why this weekend was difficult and regaining the form we showed earlier,” he said. “Once we find that, the results should follow.”
Stella expressed confidence in Piastri’s rebound.
“We know Oscar thrives under low grip when pushing the car hard,” Stella noted. “This is an area where he can improve quickly, and today gave us valuable data to build on.”
Sainz goes from hero to zero
Carlos Sainz shone on Saturday’s Sprint, navigating the Turn 1 chaos to finish third for Williams. Sunday, however, saw him spark the drama. In pursuit of Kimi Antonelli for seventh, a misjudged move at Turn 15 caused terminal damage to his Williams and spun Antonelli, ending both drivers’ races.
“I tried to leave space, but contact still happened, ending our points chances,” Antonelli said.
Sainz remained composed in reflecting on the clash.
“I felt confident, had good pace, and attempted a move similar to one I did on Ollie [Bearman],” Sainz explained. “Antonelli closed earlier than expected, I locked up, and we collided. It’s a small lock-up with big consequences. Racing is like that—one day a hero, the next criticized, and vice versa.”
Verstappen’s dominance, Norris’s strategic patience, and Piastri’s struggles highlight a dynamic, shifting championship battle. Meanwhile, Sainz’s weekend illustrates the fine margins between glory and mishap, keeping the F1 narrative thrilling as the season heads into its final chapters.
