Verstappen wins dramatic US Grand Prix sprint, McLarens crash

AUSTIN: Max Verstappen made the most of a first-corner collision between the two McLaren drivers to win Saturday’s sprint race at the United States Grand Prix and reduce Oscar Piastri’s lead over him by eight points.

The four-time world champion turned his third consecutive sprint pole at the Circuit of the Americas into a third straight sprint win, reducing the gap between him and Piastri to 55 points.

Lando Norris remained second, 22 points behind Piastri who had crashed into him after being hit by Nico Hulkenberg’s Sauber as the German driver attempted to sweep inside the McLarens at Turn One.

Verstappen went on to win after 19 laps, ahead of Mercedes’ George Russell, Williams’ Carlos Sainz and the two Ferraris, with Lewis Hamilton finishing fourth after a slick overtake of Charles Leclerc.

“The start was good,” said Verstappen. “But then, of course, there was the safety... It took a few laps to have good pace so we need to work out what happened there.

“We need to be better in race trim tomorrow to fight the McLarens. We’ll take a look. We have some ideas so hopefully it will work better.”

The McLarens are without a race win since Australian Piastri’s victory at the Dutch Grand Prix in August.

“We both went pretty deep into Turn One,” said Piastri. “I tried to cut back but I got a hit... Not a great way to start the day — I need to take another look.”

Norris said: “There’s not a lot I could do. I was taken out and that was it.”

- Verstappen’s perfect start -

On a hot day in Austin, Verstappen made a perfect start to lead away up the hill into Turn One.

The accident behind him was caused by Hulkenberg tagging Piastri who was lifted airborne into Norris’s car.

For McLaren and their duelling title-chasers,