Max Verstappen overcame a spirited start from Lando Norris and a late charge from Lewis Hamilton to take his 50th career Formula 1 victory at Circuit of the Americas this morning.
Having started sixth, the three-time world champion took the lead off Norris mid-race before pulling a gap ahead of the field’s second of two stops, where he remained until the chequered flag.
Norris got the better of pole-sitter Charles Leclerc off the start and immediately put a gap on the field, leading by 1.7 seconds at the end of Lap 1, which continued to grow as battles behind unfolded.
Meanwhile, Hamilton had also started strong and worked ahead of Carlos Sainz and Leclerc to slot into second, while Verstappen followed through to third shortly after.
Verstappen was the first of the leaders to come in for his first stop, remaining on medium tyres, while Norris covered a lap later to switch to hards. Hamilton came in on Lap 21, also changing to hards, and lost a position to Verstappen through an undercut.
Norris retook the lead when Leclerc came in on Lap 23 but had Verstappen charging behind on the softer compound. The world champion took the lead on Lap 28 and briefly pulled a gap, which Norris would eat back into and challenged to retake the lead before coming in for his second stop on Lap 34.
Verstappen covered a lap later, switching to the hard compound, as had Norris, to bring the race home.
Hamilton again stayed out for an extended stint, pitting on Lap 38 and emerging behind the two leaders. The seven-time champion ate into the gap to Norris ahead during the closing stages before moving to second in the first sector of Lap 49.
As Verstappen battled brake issues, Hamilton ate into his lead, coming to within 1.5 seconds by the chequered flag but running out of laps to get a move done.
Norris would find some late pace to keep Sainz at bay, the Ferrari driver settling for fourth after team orders allowed him to pass Leclerc.
Sergio Perez passed a fading Leclerc in the closing stages, coming home fifth and leaving the pole-starter to settle for sixth, one spot ahead of George Russell.
Pierre Gasly, Lance Stroll, and Yuki Tsunoda rounded out the top ten, the latter setting the fastest lap on a set of soft on the final circuit.
Alex Albon and Logan Sargeant finished 11th and 12th, respectively.
Oscar Piastri and Esteban Ocon were non-finishers after coming together at Turn 1 on Lap 1, the Alpine sustaining sidepod damage, which forced him to retire. Piastri lasted four more laps before suffering the same fate.
Fernando Alonso was the other retiree, falling victim to floor damage on Lap 49 of 56.
Formula 1 returns with the Mexican Grand Prix next weekend.
Header Image: Getty Images/ Red Bull Content Pool
