Max Verstappen wins US Grand Prix Sprint race after Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri crash

Follow us on Google Discover

A dramatic start to the United States Grand Prix sprint race saw both McLarens out in the opening lap, triggering an early safety car.

Max Verstappen and the two McLarens made a clean start off the grid, with Oscar Piastri coming in line with his teammate Lando Norris heading into turn one.

Piastri attempted to cut back inside behind Norris into the corner, turning quite sharply left before being tagged from behind by fourth-place Nico Hulkenberg. The incident saw the Aussie catch the back of Norris, causing significant damage to the back of the Brit’s McLaren.

The championship leader attempted to limp back to the pit lane but had heavy damage to his front suspension and was forced to pull up just a few corners later.

Verstappen now has a huge opportunity to whittle down the gap to Norris and Piastri in the drivers’ championship, with both of the McLaren drivers out of the race.

Fernando Alonso was also out on the opening lap after being caught in the melee, which resulted in a puncture to his Aston Martin.

Yuki Tsunoda had an incredible start, moving up 11 places in the opening few corners due to the tussle up front. The Red Bull briefly caught the front wing of Hulkenberg’s Sauber, but appeared unscathed.

Read more: 2025 F1 United States Grand Prix: how to watch, race and sprint UK timings and COTA weather forecast

Race control then announced that there would be no further action for the turn 1 incident.

George Russell makes lunge on Max Verstappen for the Sprint race lead

Verstappen made an early jump on the safety car restart, but slid slightly coming out of the final corner, resulting in George Russell remaining in touch with the leading Red Bull.

Russell was able to keep up with the Dutchman in the following laps, staying within the DRS, making a lunge up the inside down the back straight on Lap 8, which saw both cars go off track.

The Mercedes driver was noted for forcing another car off track after locking his front tyre heading into Turn 12, but there was no further investigation. Russell appeared to pay for his overtake attempt, dropping out of the DRS range to Verstappen.

Just a lap later, Lewis Hamilton made an almost identical move on his Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc at Turn 12, but cleanly got past and into fourth. Leclerc went off track earlier in the lap, bringing Hamilton into play for an overtake.

Verstappen was struggling for rear grip during the Sprint race, with the Red Bull finding the higher temperatures difficult.

Oliver Bearman and his former Prema Racing teammate Kimi Antonelli had a dramatic duel in the closing stages, with the pair fighting for the final point. Bearman struggled to defend against the Mercedes coming off the track and was noted for leaving the track and gaining an advantage.

Bearman was handed a 10-second time penalty for the incident, dropping him to the bottom of the grid and out of the points.

Lance Stroll triggers United States Grand Prix Sprint to finish behind safety car

Lance Stroll attempted a late lunge on Esteban Ocon heading into Turn 1, before locking the tyres of his Aston Martin. Stroll ploughed into the side of the Haas, spinning Ocon and taking both cars out of the race.

The Canadian attempted to limp back to the pit lane but with only three tyres, was forced to pull over to the side of the track.

The safety car was brought out with only a few laps remaining, meaning the race was finished under safety car conditions.

Verstappen crossed the line in first place, leading every lap of the Sprint race. Russell benefited from the early accident to take second place, with Carlos Sainz in the Williams taking the final podium position