Max Verstappen wins F1 US Grand Prix; cuts Piastri standings lead

By_Suraj Karowa/ ANW

The Formula 1 United States Grand Prix held on October 19, 2025, at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas.
Max Verstappen delivered a commanding performance at the 2025 United States Formula 1 Grand Prix, securing a wire-to-wire victory from pole position and significantly closing the gap in the drivers’ championship standings. The Red Bull driver led every lap of the race, finishing 7.9 seconds ahead of McLaren’s Lando Norris, who took second place, and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, who finished third.

This win, Verstappen’s third in the last four races and 68th of his career, reduced the championship lead of McLaren’s Oscar Piastri to 40 points, down from 104 at the end of August. With five races and two sprints remaining in the season, Verstappen’s resurgence has reignited the title battle.

The race weekend was a triumph for Verstappen, who also won the Saturday sprint race from pole, capitalizing on a disastrous performance by McLaren, whose drivers, Piastri and Norris, collided and retired in the sprint. This allowed Verstappen to maximize his points haul in Texas, further bolstered by McLaren’s earlier confirmation as the 2025 constructors’ champions. Piastri, the championship leader, endured a challenging weekend, crashing out of the sprint and finishing fifth in the main race, just 1.1 seconds behind Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton in fourth.

Despite the setback, the 24-year-old Australian remains confident in his bid to become Australia’s first F1 champion since Alan Jones in 1980, stating, “I’d still rather be where I am than the other two.”

The race itself was marked by intense battles, particularly between Norris and Leclerc. Norris lost a position to Leclerc at the start, with the Ferrari driver, running on softer but less durable tires, putting up a defensive masterclass for 21 laps. Leclerc’s strategic driving delayed Norris, who eventually overtook him with five laps remaining to secure second. McLaren team principal Andrea Stella noted that without Leclerc’s resistance, Norris might have challenged Verstappen for the win. Verstappen, however, was untouchable, maintaining a significant lead after the first round of pitstops, with Leclerc trailing by over six seconds in second.

Other notable performances included Mercedes’ George Russell, who finished sixth after winning the previous race in Singapore, and Red Bull’s Yuki Tsunoda, who took seventh. Sauber’s Nico Hulkenberg and Haas’s Oliver Bearman finished eighth and ninth, respectively, with Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso claiming the final point in tenth. The race saw early drama with a collision between Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli and Williams’ Carlos Sainz, forcing Sainz to retire and earning him a five-place grid penalty and two penalty points for the upcoming Mexican Grand Prix. A first-corner incident also involved Williams’ Alex Albon and Sauber’s Gabriel Bortoleto.

The race conditions were less severe than anticipated, with air temperatures around 28.6°C (83.5°F), despite a heat hazard declaration. Verstappen’s dominance was evident as he was rarely featured on the global television feed, cruising to victory while battles unfolded behind him. Reflecting on his title chances, Verstappen said, “The chance is there. We just need to try and deliver these weekends until the end. It’s exciting.” Norris, meanwhile, described the race as “good fun” despite the challenges, acknowledging Leclerc’s strong defense.

The article also highlights the broader context of the 2025 F1 season. Piastri leads Norris by 14 points in the drivers’ standings, with Verstappen now at 306 points compared to Piastri’s 346. McLaren’s constructors’ title was secured earlier, underscoring their strong season despite the US Grand Prix setbacks. The weekend’s results have set the stage for a thrilling conclusion to the championship, with upcoming races in Mexico and beyond promising further drama.

In addition to the race coverage, the article includes related sports stories, such as Manchester United’s victory over Liverpool, UFC and MotoGP results, and Australia’s cricket win over India. It also touches on non-sport news, including Gaza ceasefire developments and a high-profile robbery at the Louvre, reflecting ANW broad news coverage. The article concludes with a call to support Al Jazeera’s journalism, emphasizing its commitment to truth and transparency, and details its use of cookies for personalized content and site performance.