Max Verstappen boosted his championship chances by winning the sprint race at the Circuit of the Americas after the McLaren drivers collided at the first corner.

McLaren’s nightmare scenario unfolded after Lando Norris made a sluggish start from second on the grid and came under attack from his team mate. Oscar Piastri tried to cut to the inside of Norris at the tight first corner – but two other drivers were already heading for the same piece of track.

Fernando Alonso had made a good start from sixth on the grid and was looking down the inside of Nico Hulkenberg. The pair were unable to avoid each other and Piastri, tipping the McLaren driver into Norris.

The contact wiped out both McLaren drivers and left Alonso’s car terminally damaged as well. Hulkenberg limped away with a damaged front wing and fell to the rear of the field.

The drama rearranged the field behind Verstappen. George Russell moved up to second place ahead of Carlos Sainz Jnr, while the Ferrari drivers moved into the top five, led by Charles Leclerc. Alexander Albon’s Williams moved into sixth while Yuki Tsunoda had enjoyed one of the starts of the season, rising 11 places to take seventh.

Over a quarter of the 19-lap race passed behind the Safety Car while a significant amount of debris was cleared away. Once the race resumed Russell remained within range of Verstappen and on lap eight he chanced a move.

Russell dived at the Red Bull from a long way back at turn 12, but ran wide at the exit of the corner, taking Verstappen with him. Verstappen maintained his lead and Russell looked a spent force from that moment onwards, slipping back from the race leader.

Advert | Become a RaceFans supporter and

On the next lap Lewis Hamilton capitalised on a mistake by Leclerc and relieved his team mate of fourth place.

There were no more changes in the running order among the points-scorers, partly because Oliver Bearman went off at turn 15 to keep Andrea Kimi Antonelli behind him. The stewards later handed him a 10-second time penalty.

A desperate lunge by Lance Stroll on Esteban Ocon at turn one on the 16th lap put both drivers out and ensured the race ended behind the Safety Car. Verstappen therefore secured his third consecutive Austin sprint race win and moved within 55 points of championship leader Piastri.

Russell and Sainz joined him on the podium. Behind them came the Ferrari drivers, then Albon and Tsunoda, with Antonelli taking the final point after Bearman’s penalty dropped him to 15th.

Miss nothing from RaceFans

Get a daily email with all our latest stories – and nothing else. No marketing, no ads. Sign up here:

2025 United States Grand Prix

Browse all 2025 United States Grand Prix articles