Verstappen Wins Sprint; McLaren Double DNF

Max Verstappen won the United States Grand Prix sprint in Austin and took pole for Sunday with a 1:32.510 lap, edging Lando Norris by 0.291 seconds. The sprint turned chaotic when Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris — with Nico Hülkenberg also implicated — collided on the first lap, producing double DNFs for McLaren. The double DNF reshaped the championship standings: Verstappen is now 55 points behind Piastri and 33 behind Norris after the sprint. McLaren principal Andrea Stella blamed Piastri's lack of one‑lap pace on a loss of confidence and difficult track conditions, and the team has publicly backed Piastri following the earlier Singapore clash while confirming unspecified repercussions for Norris through the end of the season. Pundits warn the team's efforts to manage two highly competitive drivers could further strain McLaren's intra‑team harmony as the title fight continues.