Verstappen dominates US GP Sprint-Results
Verstappen secured a dominant US GP sprint win, fending off Hamilton and squeezing Leclerc at Turn 1. Leclerc took third, Norris fourth. Sainz struggled post-soft tyre start, making way for Perez in fifth. Russell faced a penalty for an illegal overtake on Piastri.
The 2023 United States Grand Prix sprint race produced thrills from the outset as championship leader Max Verstappen overcame an early challenge from rival Lewis Hamilton to take a commanding victory.
Verstappen aggressively squeezed Charles Leclerc towards the grass at Turn 1, allowing Hamilton to pounce around the outside and grab second from the Ferrari.
Stewards took no action over the dramatic moment.
Verstappen soon stabilized his lead, consistently lapping quicker than Hamilton.
By lap 6 a 1 second gap emerged, growing to 3.3 seconds by lap 10 as Verstappen remained untouchable, eventually winning by a comfortable 9.4 seconds.
Leclerc settled into third, unable to match the front runners' pace and finishing 8.5 seconds behind Hamilton, but held off the advances of an aggressive Lando Norris in the McLaren.
Carlos Sainz, the lone soft tyre starter, briefly held fourth before both McLarens swept past, his softer rubber allowing an initial surge but proving less durable.
Sergio Perez claimed fifth ahead of the fading Sainz, while an epic scrap for seventh saw George Russell illegally pass Oscar Piastri off track, collecting a 5 second penalty that demoted him to eighth behind the charging Alex Albon.
Pierre Gasly benefited to finish seventh.
The sole retirement was Lance Stroll, boxed by Aston Martin with recurring brake issues. In summary, Verstappen convincingly beat chief title threat Hamilton as Leclerc minimised damage in third.
Further back, raging battles throughout the field provided a thrilling precursor for Sunday's Grand Prix.
The eventful sprint has set up a tantalising United States Grand Prix with the competitive order still hard to call and overtaking opportunities aplenty at the Circuit of the Americas.
USAGP Sprint Results
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