Formula 1
MAX TAKES HIS 50TH GRAND PRIX WIN! HIS 15TH WIN THIS SEASON AND, HIS THIRD USGP IN A ROW! HAMILTON A FEW SECONDS BEHIND FOR P2 AND NORRIS DID EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO KEEP HIS PODIUM.
MAX: “It feels incredible to win my 50th Grand Prix here in Austin, I’m very proud of course but I want to keep pushing for more. Starting in P6 today was interesting, I worked my way slowly through to the front. We didn’t have a massive pace advantage today and I was struggling with my brakes.
I didn’t have the same feeling in the car as I did yesterday so that made the race much tougher than anticipated. You could see it was very close at the end and there too. We had to rely on the strategy today and the Team did a great job with that.”
AUSTIN, TEXAS – OCTOBER 22: Race winner Max Verstappen of the Netherlands and Oracle Red Bull Racing, Red Bull Racing Team Consultant Dr Helmut Marko, Adrian Newey, the Chief Technical Officer of Red Bull Racing and Red Bull Racing Team Principal Christian Horner along with Red Bull Racing team members celebrate following the F1 Grand Prix of United States at Circuit of The Americas on October 22, 2023 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images) // Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool.
Freshly-minted triple world champion Max Verstappen completed a hat-trick of Texan victories on Sunday when he claimed the 50th win of his career in a tense and strategic United States Grand Prix.
The 26-year-old Dutchman, who started sixth on the grid in his Red Bull car, worked his way through the field to take control before he came home 2.225 seconds ahead of resurgent seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes.
Verstappen, who won his third straight title last time out in the sprint at Qatar, said: “Starting from sixth position made things a little more difficult.
“To win my 50th Grand Prix, I’m very proud.”
Hamilton was pleased with his drive in the Texan sunshine.
“A fantastic weekend guys, really well done. We’ve got work to do in lots of different areas but let’s keep pushing, thank you to everyone back at the factory, let’s keep pushing we are getting closer”.
Zak Brown, CEO, McLaren Racing, Andrea Stella, Team Principal, McLaren, Lando Norris, McLaren, 3rd position, Oscar Piastri, McLaren, and the McLaren team celebrate after the race.
Lando Norris, in his 100th Grand Prix, finished third for McLaren, after a thrilling race in which he had out-started pole-sitter Charles Leclerc of Ferrari to lead, ahead of Carlos Sainz in the second Ferrari, Sergio Perez in the second Red Bull, and Leclerc.
It was Verstappen’s third consecutive victory at the Circuit of the Americas and brought him level with last season’s record tally of 15 wins.
George Russell, also in his 100th race, was seventh in the second Mercedes ahead of Alpine’s Pierre Gasly and Lance Stroll, who had started in the pit-lane in his Aston Martin.
Yuki Tsunoda finished 10th for Alpha Tauri and secured an extra point for fastest lap.
Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc have been disqualified from finishes of second and sixth after being found to have skid plates worn out of compliance with regulations. The disqualifications promote Williams Racing drivers Alex Albon and Logan Sargeant into finishes of ninth and tenth.