Verstappen Extends Formula One Lead with United States GP Victory

Max Verstappen dominated the United States Grand Prix weekend, winning both the sprint and the main race, thereby cutting his championship deficit to McLaren's Oscar Piastri to 40 points. Lando Norris finished second in the race, reducing his own gap to Piastri to 14 points, while Piastri finished fifth after a series of challenging races and incidents involving his teammate Norris. Verstappen's pole position and victory at Austin were part of a strong resurgence, with the Red Bull driver now firmly back in the title fight as the championship enters its final five rounds. The weekend also saw internal McLaren tensions escalate following collisions between Norris and Piastri, which have put the team's title hopes under strain. Ferrari's Charles Leclerc and Mercedes drivers Lewis Hamilton and George Russell featured prominently, with Leclerc finishing third and Hamilton fourth. This race marked a significant shift in the championship dynamics, transforming what was once a McLaren-dominated contest into a three-way battle for the world championship.