Max Verstappen delivered a commanding performance at the United States Grand Prix, taking a dominant victory to close the gap on McLaren duo Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris in the championship fight. The Red Bull driver converted pole position into his seventh career win in Austin and his fifth victory of the 2025 season, tightening the title race heading into Mexico.
Norris finished second after a late overtake on Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, while Piastri could manage only fifth behind Lewis Hamilton. With five races remaining, Piastri’s lead has been slashed to just 14 points over Norris, with Verstappen now 40 points off the top after also winning Saturday’s sprint.
Verstappen Back in the Title Fight
After taking maximum points across the weekend, Verstappen was in complete control from the moment the lights went out. The Dutchman led comfortably through the opening stages, surviving an early virtual safety car triggered by contact between Williams’ Carlos Sainz and Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli. Sainz retired from the race and was later handed a five-place grid penalty for Mexico.
From there, Verstappen never looked threatened. He maintained a steady gap through the pit stop phases, ultimately cruising to victory and reigniting his championship hopes. “For sure, the chance is there,” Verstappen said afterwards. “We just need to deliver these weekends until the end.”
Norris Battles Leclerc for Second
Norris started alongside Verstappen on the front row but was jumped by Leclerc at Turn 1, as the Ferrari driver used soft tyres to catapult into second place. The McLaren driver spent much of the race stuck behind Leclerc, attempting multiple moves at Turn 12 before finally getting through with five laps remaining after a smart dummy on the back straight.
Leclerc’s strong drive to third marked one of Ferrari’s best performances of the year, while Hamilton took a lonely fourth after losing ground to the lead trio during the middle stint. Norris’ runner-up finish helped him trim his deficit to Piastri, who endured another frustrating weekend.
Piastri Struggles as McLaren’s Form Dips
Piastri’s fifth-place finish marked his third subdued race in a row, the Australian again unable to match Norris’ pace. He lost time early in the race battling Hamilton and was forced to defend hard against George Russell in the closing stages. Despite salvaging valuable points, the McLaren driver’s once commanding title lead now looks under serious threat.
Red Bull’s Yuki Tsunoda impressed with a strong drive to seventh, ahead of Sauber’s Nico Hülkenberg, Haas’ Oliver Bearman, and Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso, who completed the top ten. Bearman survived a mid-race spin while challenging Tsunoda but recovered to score for Haas in front of their home crowd.
Analysis: Game On in the Championship
Verstappen’s Austin victory — combined with his sprint win — earned him 23 more points than Piastri over the weekend, turning what looked like a one-sided championship into a genuine three-way battle. McLaren’s loss of form relative to Red Bull, and Piastri’s recent struggles, have blown the fight wide open heading into the final stretch.
As former champion Damon Hill summed it up: “Masterclass — another masterclass. Verstappen is relentless. It’s great. Game on.”
What’s Next?
Formula 1 heads straight to Mexico City (Mexican Grand Prix) for Round 20 of the 2025 season from 24–26 October. With just five races to go, Piastri, Norris, and Verstappen are locked in an increasingly tense battle for the world championship — and momentum is firmly back with Red Bull.
