Verstappen Wins Chaotic Austin Sprint After McLaren Collision
- Damian Hall
- 6 days ago
- 4 min read
Red Bull’s Max Verstappen claimed victory in a chaotic Sprint race at the Circuit of the Americas, finishing ahead of Mercedes’ George Russell and Williams’ Carlos Sainz, as early contact between the McLarens of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri brought an abrupt end to both drivers’ races.
The Sprint is a 19-lap dash that runs on Saturday at select rounds of the championship and offers drivers the chance to earn additional points before Sunday’s Grand Prix. Only the top eight finishers score, with eight points awarded to the winner and one point to eighth place, often leading to short but intense racing as drivers push hard from lights to flag.
“The start was good, then of course there was a Safety Car after the Turn 1 incident,” said Verstappen after taking his latest Sprint win. “I took a few laps after the SC to have decent pace, so we need to figure out what was going on there, but nevertheless we won the Sprint, which is of course the most important.
“Already looking ahead for tomorrow, I do think we need to be a bit better in race trim to be able to fight the McLarens, because we haven’t seen anything of them. We’ll have a look and hopefully it will just stick a bit better tomorrow.”
Verstappen got away cleanly from pole and immediately covered off the inside line into Turn 1. Behind him, chaos unfolded as both McLarens collided before the first corner. Oscar Piastri made a strong start and drew alongside teammate Lando Norris, who attempted to defend the position by braking later, staying alongside his teammate and claiming rights to the apex. That forced Piastri to momentarily yield before attempting to undercut Norris on exit, adjusting his braking to position himself more towards the centre of the track to get back on the power sooner and continue the fight for position.
As Norris accelerated downhill across the circuit toward the kerb on the outside, Sauber’s Nico Hulkenberg appeared on Piastri’s inside, with Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso positioned even further inside of Hulkenberg, effectively placing the Sauber driver in a sandwich between Alonso and Piastri. Piastri’s rear left tyre made contact with Hulkenberg’s front right, launching the McLaren into the left rear of Norris’ car and spinning the Briton around, tearing off a tyre in the process.
Norris retired on the spot, while Piastri followed soon after with suspension damage. The Safety Car was deployed immediately, neutralising the race until the end of lap five.
When racing resumed, Verstappen maintained control but came under pressure from Mercedes’ George Russell, who closed in within the DRS zones. On lap eight, Russell launched a bold move down the inside under braking at Turn 12, briefly drawing alongside before running wide and forcing Verstappen off the circuit. Russell then backed off, allowing Verstappen to retain the lead.
Russell later explained that he had no regrets about taking the risk.
“I knew you don’t get many opportunities with Max, so I saw half a chance and sent it,” said Russell. “I was probably too far behind but I’m glad I gave it a go. P2 is better than what we could have expected. Some decent points.”
He also reflected on the first-lap drama at Turn 1.
“I was on the outside and fully sent it. Then I realised everyone on the inside fully sent it. Carlos and I were like, ‘I don’t think that will work too nicely’. I’ve not seen it but it looked like three cars into one, which often doesn’t go.”
Williams’ Carlos Sainz produced another measured drive to secure third, holding off both Ferraris in the closing stages. His consistency under pressure earned the Grove-based team its first Sprint podium.
“We had a solid race,” said Sainz. “The Ferraris were quick behind but we kept them under control and brought home the P3, which tastes really good. Nothing has changed. We’re just getting a little bit more lucky and things stop happening to us. But I’ve had this pace all year. The first half of the year I wasn’t able to show it, but now things are running a lot smoother.”
Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton led the charge for the team, finishing fourth ahead of teammate Charles Leclerc in fifth. Hamilton sounded encouraged by the car’s race pace and confident that stronger results could be on the horizon.
“The car was the same as it was in Sprint Qualifying. The pace was decent,” said Hamilton. “It felt a little bit better in race trim. The delta wasn’t as big to everyone around us. I just managed to avoid the drama at Turn 1. The start was good, but a shame I couldn’t get close enough to get in the top three. I’m hoping for a better qualifying today, so fingers crossed.”
Williams’ Alex Albon took sixth, Red Bull’s Yuki Tsunoda finished seventh, and Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli secured the final point in eighth.
The race ended under the Safety Car after contact between Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll and Haas’ Esteban Ocon at Turn 1 on lap sixteen brought proceedings to an early close.
Comments