VERSTAPPEN WINS CHAOTIC SPRINT AT AUSTIN AS BOTH MCLARENS CRASH OUT ON LAP 1
The Sprint race at the United States Grand Prix was full of drama. Max Verstappen won the race, while both McLaren drivers, Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, crashed out on the very first lap.
At the start, Verstappen got away cleanly from pole position, but chaos followed behind him. Nico Hulkenberg’s Kick Sauber hit Piastri at Turn 1, spinning the Australian into his teammate Norris. Both McLaren cars were out instantly, while Hulkenberg’s car was damaged and dropped down the field.
Verstappen stayed calm at the front, holding off Mercedes driver George Russell and surviving two Safety Car periods to take the win. The race ended under one of those Safety Cars after a late crash between Lance Stroll and Esteban Ocon.
Russell finished second, and Carlos Sainz brought his Williams home in third. Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc followed for Ferrari in fourth and fifth. Alex Albon finished sixth, Yuki Tsunoda was seventh, and Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli took the final point in eighth after Haas driver Ollie Bearman got a 10-second penalty that sent him to the back.
The race was only 19 laps long, and all drivers started on medium tyres. After a short practice session earlier in the day, Verstappen had taken pole in Friday’s Sprint Qualifying ahead of Norris, Piastri, and Hulkenberg.
When the race began, Verstappen launched perfectly, but Turn 1 became a disaster zone. Piastri got hit by Hulkenberg, spun, and took out Norris. Fernando Alonso was also caught up in the mess and retired, while the Safety Car came out to clear the debris.
Once racing resumed, Verstappen stayed ahead of Russell and Sainz. Russell tried a bold move on Lap 8 but went wide, allowing Verstappen to keep the lead. The Ferrari pair, Hamilton and Leclerc, had their own battle, with Hamilton getting the upper hand.
Later in the race, Stroll tried to pass Ocon but locked up and crashed into him. Both drivers retired, bringing out another Safety Car. Because of the time lost, the race ended without more green-flag running.
Verstappen took his 13th Sprint win, with Russell second and Sainz third. Hamilton, Leclerc, Albon, Tsunoda, and Antonelli completed the top eight. Behind them came Lawson, Gasly, Bortoleto, Hadjar, Hulkenberg, Colapinto, and Bearman.
Five drivers failed to finish, Norris, Piastri, Alonso, Ocon, and Stroll, in what was one of the most chaotic Sprints of the season.
The drivers will return to the track later on Saturday for qualifying for Sunday’s main race.
Share this content:
