Verstappen wins U.S. Grand Prix and McLaren’s Norris pulls nearer to teammate Piastri in F1 title hunt

Red Bull’s Max Verstappen raced to his third victory in 4 races on the Formula 1 United States Grand Prix, whereas McLaren’s Lando Norris took an enormous chunk out of teammate Oscar Piastri’s championship lead by ending second.

Piastri was a distant fifth on Sunday (October 19, 2025), permitting Norris to drag inside 14 factors with 5 grand prix and two dash races to go.

Verstappen is also closing quick along with his late-season cost. Verstappen now trails Piastri by 40 factors, and Norris by 26, in third place, and has put the McClarens on discover he intends to chase all of them the way in which to the tip of the season.

Piastri and Norris try to win their first profession driver’s championship. Verstappen is looking his fifth in a row, and his dominant type of late has given him an actual likelihood to get it. He additionally gained the dash race Saturday (October 19, 2025) after the 2 McLarens bumped into one another on the primary flip and crashed out.

“It was an unbelievable weekend for us,” Verstappen mentioned.

“The chance is there. We just need to try to deliver these kind of weekends until the end.”

Norris’ late move of Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc for second earned the British driver an important place and factors as he chases Piastri and hopes to carry off Verstappen over the ultimate stretch of the season.

Verstappen began on the pole Sunday (October 19, 2025) on the Circuit of the Americas and was by no means challenged for the lead in amassing his 68th profession victory, and fourth in 5 years in Austin. The Dutch driver constructed a 10-second lead by the midway level as Norris and Leclerc drove a livid battle for second.

“It was a good battle with Charles. He fought hard,” Norris mentioned.

“We’ll have to take second. No more we could have done today.”

Piastri in stoop as lead shrinks

Piastri’s day by no means bought going. The Australian began sixth and shortly made up a spot within the first few corners however was caught there for the remainder of the race.

Piastri’s lead is quickly shrinking below strain. He hasn’t gained for the reason that Dutch Grand Prix on Aug. 31 and hasn’t completed on the rostrum the final three races.

“I’d still rather be where I am than the other two, but obviously this weekend was not what I wanted or expected,” Piastri mentioned.

The sequence subsequent heads to Mexico City, the place Verstappen has 5 profession victories on the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez.

“I think we need to be perfect until the end to have chance,” to win the championship, Verstappen mentioned.

“We’ve caught up a lot. At the same time, the gaps (between cars) are very small.”

Ferrari’s exhausting combat to the rostrum

Ferrari continues to be winless on the season, however the staff confirmed flashes with its 3-4 end from Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton.

And it got here a day after Ferrari Chairman John Elkann issued a press release saying he has “full confidence” in staff principal Fred Vasseur amid persistent hypothesis that former Red Bull racing boss Christian Horner may take his job.

“I’m very happy,” Leclerc mentioned.

“It was good day, especially considering the situation. The second part of the season hasn’t been easy. There are completely unfounded noise and rumors around the team. To demonstrate we can stay focused on the job and be rewarded with a podium is really nice.”