United States GP: Max Verstappen wins in Austin and widens his lead in the drivers’ standings – franceinfo

End of the reign of Mercedes in the country of Uncle Sam. For the first time since 2014, the German team did not win the Grand Prix des EUnited States. It was Max Verstappen, at the wheel of his Red Bull, who won Sunday, October 24 in Austin (Texas), at the same time consolidating his position as leader in the drivers’ standings. The Dutchman finished ahead of Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) and Sergio Perez (Red Bull). He is now twelve points ahead of his British rival at five Grand Prix at the end of the season.

Starting from pole, Verstappen immediately ceded the lead in the race to Hamilton, seven-time world champion, who took the inside at the first corner. The race then became consistent with the course of this thrilling season, and the two rivals chained the crossover. Verstappen returned to the pits on lap 11 to put on hard tires, Hamilton followed him three laps later but the Dutchman pulled off the perfect undercut to regain the lead on lap 15.

MAX VERSTAPPEN IS BACK TO WINNING WAYS!

He holds off Lewis Hamilton for his eighth win of the season, and it means he leads the championship!#USGP # F1 pic.twitter.com/fbvq7aiXBl

– Formula 1 (@ F1) October 24, 2021

After a final pit stop at the middle of the race, a fight between the two men started with twenty laps from the end, and if Lewis Hamilton nibbled seconds lap after lap on the Dutchman (more than 8 “at the 38th lap at 1 “on the finish line), it was finally Verstappen who won in front of 120,000 Texas spectators.