MOTORSPORT: Verstappen holds off Hamilton in Texas

Max Verstappen won a tactical battle as he survived a late challenge from Lewis Hamilton to score a pivotal win in the US Grand Prix in Texas.

Verstappen raced aggressively, stopping earlier for tyres after losing his pole position edge at the start, to double his advantage in the title point-score with five races left in the 2021 championship.

It was the first time Mercedes-AMG has been beaten at the Circuit of the Americas, and Sergio Perez emphasised the strength at Red Bull Racing as he finished third.

Shaquille O’Neil delivered the winner’s trophy as a passionate capacity crowd of 140,000 people put the life back into Formula 1, cheering like a football crowd throughout the high points of the race weekend.

Daniel Ricciardo raced impressively to fifth on a track he enjoys, outpacing his McLaren teammate Lando Norris in the process, after enjoying himself in the GP lead-up with a NASCAR racer once driven by his hero Dale Earnhardt.

He was promised track time by his team boss Zak Brown, who owns the 1980s car, after winning the Italian Grand Prix and Ricciardo went all-out for fun as he also cut a series of smoky donuts.

The F1 battle was just as impressive as Red Bull seized the advantage on a track that was expected to play to Mercedes-AMG’s strengths.

Verstappen avoided controversy and showed his growing maturity as he closes in on a first world title.

“Congratulations to Max, he did a great job today,” said Hamilton, in rare but honest praise for his young challenger.

“It was such a tough race. I gave it everything today but in the end they had the upper hand.”

Verstappen admitted it took a strategic gamble to win, as The Bulls used a series of early tyre changes to give him track position to defend against Hamilton.

“We lost out in the start so we had to do something else. I was not sure it was going to work,” said Verstappen.

The fight come down to the final handful of laps and, although Hamilton closed down the gap, he never got close enough to challenge for the lead.

“The last three laps were fun,” said Verstappen.

“Max managed to keep just enough in hand. It’s big for us to beat Mercedes here,” said Red Bull team boss Christian Horner.

But there was no fun for Perez, who raced the whole way without a drinks bottle on a hot and humid day in Austin.

“I think my toughest race, ever, physically,” he said.

Behind the podium places, Charles Leclerc was fourth for Ferrari, in the continuing tussle with McLaren for third place in the F1 constructors’ championship, with Ricciardo next and Valtteri Bottas only making it up to sixth after starting at the back following an engine change in his Mercedes.

The world title fight next moves to Mexico, the home race for Perez, where Red Bull has usually had the quicker car and where Verstappen will be looking to continue his winning form.

2021 US Grand Prix results:
1. Max Verstappen, Red Bull
2. Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes-AMG
3. Sergio Perez, Red Bull
4. Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
5. Daniel Ricciardo, McLaren
6. Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes-AMG
7. Carlos Sainz, Ferrari
8. Lando Norris, McLaren
9. Yuki Tsunoda, AlphaTauri
10. Sebastian Vettel, Aston Martin
11. Antoni Giovinazzi, Alfa Romeo
12. Kimi Raikkonen, Alfa Romeo
13. Lance Stroll, Aston Martin
14. George Russell, Williams
15. Nicholas Latifi, Williams
16. Mick Schumacher, Haas
17. Nikita Mazepin, Haas
DNF Fernando Alonso, Alpine
DNF Esteban Ocon, Alpine
DNF Pierre Gasly, AlphaTauri

2021 Formula 1 driver standings:
1. Verstappen, 287.5
2. Hamilton, 275.5
3. Bottas, 185
4. Perez, 150
5. Norris, 149
6. Leclerc, 128
7. Sainz, 122.5
8. Ricciardo, 105
9. Gasly, 74
10. Alonso, 58