Image: from Turn1Visuals X @Turn1Visuals
Benjamin Foster | Staff Writer with Agencies
Max Verstappen claimed victory in the Sprint race of the 2025 Formula 1 United States Grand Prix, held this Saturday (18) at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin. The Red Bull driver dominated from start to finish, earning his 13th career Sprint win. The race ended under the safety car after a dramatic collision between Lance Stroll and Esteban Ocon in Turn 1.
With this result, Verstappen tightens the championship fight. He now sits with 281 points, closing in on Lando Norris (314) and leader Oscar Piastri (336). The qualifying session later today will determine the grid for Sunday’s main race, where the four-time champion will have another opportunity to close the gap in the standings.
The race started with Verstappen taking the lead comfortably off the line. Behind him, the two McLarens battled side by side down the main straight. As they approached Turn 1, Piastri attempted an inside move on Norris but misjudged the braking point, clipping Nico Hülkenberg’s Sauber. The German spun and collected Fernando Alonso’s Aston Martin. Piastri then struck Norris, eliminating both McLarens on the spot. Alonso also retired with heavy damage, while Hülkenberg managed to limp back to the pits, replace his front wing, and continue. The stewards classified the chaos as a racing incident with no penalties.
The restart came on lap six of nineteen. George Russell attacked Verstappen using DRS and momentarily forced the Red Bull driver wide, but Verstappen held firm. The stewards reviewed the incident and decided no further action was needed. Meanwhile, Lewis Hamilton overtook Charles Leclerc to move into fourth place.
As the race entered its final laps, the drama returned. On lap 17, Lance Stroll braked too late into Turn 1 and collided heavily with Esteban Ocon, eliminating both drivers. The safety car was deployed once more, and the race ended behind it.
Verstappen took the win ahead of Russell and Carlos Sainz, who completed the podium for Williams. Hamilton finished fourth, followed by Leclerc in fifth. Alexander Albon, Yuki Tsunoda, and Kimi Antonelli rounded out the points-scoring positions.
🚨DOUBLE DISASTER FOR MCLAREN AS NORRIS & PIASTRI COLLIDE IN 🇺🇸U.S. GP SPRINT
McLaren’s title hopes took a major hit as Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri crashed out in the U.S. Grand Prix sprint at Austin’s Circuit of the Americas.
🔹 Piastri’s car was clipped by Sauber’s Nico… pic.twitter.com/2LCiMAOQEV
— Info Room (@InfoR00M) October 18, 2025
Final Results – F1 Sprint, United States Grand Prix 2025:
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Max Verstappen (Red Bull/Honda RBPT)
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George Russell (Mercedes)
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Carlos Sainz (Williams/Mercedes)
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Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari)
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Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
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Alexander Albon (Williams/Mercedes)
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Yuki Tsunoda (Red Bull/Honda RBPT)
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Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes)
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Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls/Honda RBPT)
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Pierre Gasly (Alpine/Renault)
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Gabriel Bortoleto (Sauber/Ferrari)
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Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls/Honda RBPT)
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Nico Hülkenberg (Sauber/Ferrari)
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Franco Colapinto (Alpine/Renault)
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Oliver Bearman (Haas/Ferrari)
DNF) Lance Stroll (Aston Martin/Mercedes)
DNF) Esteban Ocon (Haas/Ferrari)
DNF) Lando Norris (McLaren/Mercedes)
DNF) Oscar Piastri (McLaren/Mercedes)
DNF) Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin/Mercedes)
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