AUSTIN, TEXAS – OCTOBER 18: Sprint winner Max Verstappen of the Netherlands and Oracle Red Bull Racing waves in parc ferme during the Sprint prior to the F1 United States Grand Prix at Circuit of The Americas on October 18, 2025 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Bryn Lennon – Formula 1/Formula 1 via Getty Images)
Formula 1 via Getty Images
Max Verstappen piloted his Red Bull to victory in an action-packed sprint race at the United States Grand Prix, giving him a huge boost in his battle for the championship.
From pole position, the Dutchman took his second consecutive sprint victory of the season and his thirteenth overall, finishing 0.395 seconds ahead of Mercedes’ George Russell behind the safety car when Lance Stroll crashed into Esteban Ocon on lap 16 of 19.
Meanwhile, Verstappen’s title rivals Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri had a nightmarish start to the weekend. After starting the sprint for McLaren in second and third respectively, both drivers crashed on the very first lap.
Piastri was tagged in Turn 1 by Nico Hulkenberg’s Kick Sauber, causing the Australian to crash into his teammate and knocking both contenders out of the sprint.
McLaren’s disastrous start offered Verstappen a golden opportunity to close the gap in the standings. He is now 55 points behind leader Piastri and 33 points clear of second-placed Norris, with six races and two sprints remaining in the season.
AUSTIN, TEXAS – OCTOBER 18: Lando Norris of Great Britain and McLaren and Oscar Piastri of Australia and McLaren collide in the first corner during the sprint ahead of the F1 United States Grand Prix at the Circuit of The Americas on October 18, 2025 in Austin, United States. (Photo by Kym Illman/Getty Images)
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Carlos Sainz put his Williams in a stunning third place, while Ferrari duo Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc completed the top five.
Further back, Alexander Albon claimed sixth place, ahead of Yuki Tsunoda, while Kimi Antonelli managed to secure the last available point ahead of the top eight finishers in his Mercedes.
Liam Lawson missed out on the points and finished ninth for Racing Bulls, ahead of Alpine’s Pierre Gasly.
Nico Hulkenberg, who had an impressive start in fourth place, finished the sprint in a lowly 13th place after colliding with the McLarens on the opening lap.
2025 United States Grand Prix Sprint Results
Here are the sprint race results at the Circuit of the Americas:
- Max Verstappen (Red Bull Racing)
- George Russell (Mercedes): +0.395
- Carlos Sainz (Williams): +0.791
- Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari): +1,224
- Charles Leclerc (Ferrari): +1,825
- Alexander Albon (Williams): +2,576
- Yuki Tsunoda (Red Bull Racing): +2.976
- Andrea Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes): +4.147
- Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls): +4,804
- Pierre Gasly (Alps): +5.126
- Gabriel Bortoleto (Kick Sauber): +5,649
- Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls): +6,228
- Nico Hulkenberg (Sauber): +6.624
- Franco Colapinto (Alps): +8.006
- Oliver Bearman (Haas): +13.576
Not found
- Esteban Ocon (Haas)
- Lance Stroll (Aston Martin)
- Oscar Piastri (McLaren)
- Lando Norris (McLaren)
- Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin)
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