Red Bull’s Max Verstappen fended off a late challenge from title rival Lewis Hamilton to win the US Grand Prix.
Verstappen’s victory, taken in impressively mature and controlled style in a tense strategic fight, extended his championship lead to 12 points with five races to go.
Hamilton took the lead at the start, lost it when Verstappen made an early first pit stop and tried an off-set strategy aimed at fighting for the win in the final laps.
The Mercedes was on Verstappen’s tail with two laps to go but it was not enough.
It was a gripping battle held in front of 140 000 at a packed Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, at the end of a weekend on which Formula 1 felt like its popularity in the US had reached new levels.
Hamilton crossed the line just 1.3 seconds behind after one of the most hard-fought races of a classic grand prix season.
“That was sheer class, Max,” Red Bull team principal said over the radio on the slowing down lap. “What a drive. And it was indeed one of Verstappen’s greatest victories, under the most intense pressure from Hamilton and Mercedes. (BBC)
