AUSTIN, Texas — Max Verstappen's championship chances received a healthy boost at Saturday's U.S. Grand Prix sprint race after he secured victory and the two McLaren drivers crashed out.
Verstappen's eight-point gain over championship leader Oscar Piastri means he is now 55 points behind the Australian and 33 points behind Lando Norris.
The McLaren drivers were fighting for position in Turn 1 on the opening lap when Piastri made contact with the Sauber of Nico Hülkenberg and was launched into Norris.
Prior to the collision, Piastri had made a good start but was on the outside of Norris on the run up to Turn 1. Norris ran deep into the corner to fend off his teammate, while Piastri attempted to cut back inside Norris and drove across the path of Hulkenberg, who had attempted to go on the inside of both McLarens.
The two title contenders suffered race-ending damage and retired on the opening lap, while Hulkenberg dropped to the back of the field after losing his front wing.
Fernando Alonso's Aston Martin also suffered collateral damage that saw him retire on the opening lap along with the McLarens.
The collision comes just two weeks after Norris was blamed for contact with Piastri on the opening lap of the Singapore Grand Prix — an incident that saw McLaren retrospectively blame Norris and impose undisclosed «consequences» on the British driver.
Speaking to Sky Sports from the pit wall after Saturday's collision, McLaren CEO Zak Brown said he blamed Hulkenberg.
«That was terrible, neither of our drivers to blame there,» Brown said. «Some amateur hour driving. Clearly Nico drove into Oscar. He had no business being where he was.»
The FIA stewards did not investigate the collision, which is in line with their policy on first
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