MOTORSPORT: Verstappen claims US F1 GP

Max Verstappen claimed a record-matching 13th win of the 2022 Formula 1 season after a gutsy comeback drive in the United States Grand Prix at the Circuit of the Americas early this morning Australian time.

Capping a weekend in which Red Bull company founder Dietrich Mateschitz passed away, the victory sealed the Constructor’s Championship for his lead squad, the fifth in their history and the first since 2013.

A tardy final service for Verstappen forced him to pass both Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) and Lewis Hamilton (McLaren) in his run to the chequered flag.

“It was a tough one, it was all looking good, but then the pit stop was a bit longer than I would have liked, and I had to fight my way forward again,” said Verstappen.

“We gave it everything out there today. Of course it’s a very difficult weekend for us, but this one is definitely dedicated to Dietrich and what he has done for everyone.

“The only thing we could do today was win, and even after the pit stop, it wasn’t looking great out there. I pushed to the limit to come back.”

Verstappen blasted into the lead off the race start, as the Mercedes of George Russell speared into polesitter Carlos Sainz, who limped back to the pits where his Ferrari was retired with a water leak.

For his part in the mess, Russell earned a 5sec penalty, which was served at his first pit stop.

Nicholas Latifi (Williams) spun off on lap five of 56, while Sergio Perez rose up to fourth, despite a flapping front wing on his Red Bull.

The first round of pit stops started on lap 11, with Verstappen taking his service on the 14th circuit.

Valtteri Bottas beached his Alfa Romeo on lap 18, necessitating a full safety car, which saw the last of the runners make their first tyre change, including Leclerc.

After starting 12th due to a 10-place grid penalty for taking on board his sixth engine of the season, Leclerc restarted from fourth on lap 22.

The safety car was back on the track by the end of the lap, after Fernando Alonso (Alpine) got into the back of Lance Stroll (Aston Martin), who made a late block in the middle of the back straight.

Alonso caught significant air under his front wheels before returning to the pits with a flat tyre, while Stroll retired on the spot.

Hamilton headed to the pits for a second time on lap 35 from second position, covered off a lap later by both Verstappen and Leclerc, although a slow service from the Red Bull crew saw the former race leader re-emerge in third.

However, following some temporary position swaps, Verstappen claimed second at the end of the back straight on lap 39, while Latifi earned a 5sec penalty for escorting the Haas of Mick Schumacher off track.

Verstappen wore down Hamilton, claiming the lead on lap 50, with the Dutchman subsequently issued a bad sportsmanship flag for exceeding track limits, essentially his final warning before receiving a penalty.

Verstappen went on to head Hamilton to the chequered flag by 5sec, with Leclerc a further 2.5sec back in third.

Fourth went to Perez, then Russell, a hard-charging Lando Norris (McLaren), Alonso, and Sebastian Vettel, who overcame the one-stopping Kevin Magnussen (Haas) on the final lap, with Yuki Tsunoda (AlphaTauri) rounding out the points finishers in tenth, while Daniel Ricciardo (McLaren) languished in 16th.

The Formula 1 squads will travel south of the border for next weekend’s Mexican Grand Prix from the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez.

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