F1 US GP: Verstappen Wins, Narrows Title Gap to McLaren Pair
Max Verstappen wins the 2025 US GP in Austin, closing his championship gap to McLaren's Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri with five races remaining.
By Divyam Dubey
Max Verstappen secured victory at the 2025 F1 United States Grand Prix at the Circuit of the Americas. Starting from pole position, the Red Bull driver led every lap to take his fifth win of the season and third in the last four races. Verstappen also won the sprint race on Saturday, collecting maximum points from the weekend. The result reduced his gap to 40 points behind the McLaren drivers in the championship standings, with five rounds remaining. His consistent pace and controlled strategy added pressure on McLaren heading into the Mexican Grand Prix, where the title fight will continue.
Also Read: MotoGP: Raul Fernandez Delivers Trackhouse’s First Premier Class Win at the 2025 Australian GP
During Sunday’s race, Verstappen faced limited challenge and managed his pace and tyres effectively. His pit stop timing kept him in front throughout. The performance strengthened Red Bull’s position in both championships after their earlier dip in form. The win confirmed Verstappen’s return to contention and gave the team confidence for the remaining races.
Lando Norris finished second for McLaren after overtaking Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc. Norris recovered from a slow start and gained key points to limit his team-mate Oscar's advantage. Leclerc finished third, bringing Ferrari steady points in their battle with Mercedes for second place in the constructors’ standings.
Lewis Hamilton finished fourth for Ferrari, following Leclerc for most of the race but unable to overtake late on. McLaren’s Oscar Piastri took fifth place, losing more ground to both Verstappen and Norris in the standings. Piastri’s lead over Norris is now 14 points, setting up a close contest between the teammates as the season heads toward its final rounds.
| Pos | Driver | Team | Laps |
| 1 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull | 56 laps |
| 3 | Lando Norris | McLaren | +7.959s |
| 2 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | +15.373s |
| 4 | Lewis Hamilton | Ferrari | +28.536s |
| 5 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren | +29.678s |
| 6 | George Russell | Mercedes | +33.456s |
| 7 | Yuki Tsunoda | Red Bull | +52.714s |
| 8 | Nico Hulkenberg | Sauber | +57.249s |
| 9 | Oliver Bearman | Haas | +64.722s |
| 10 | Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin | +70.001s |
| 11 | Liam Lawson | Racing Bulls | +73.209s |
| 12 | Lance Stroll | Aston Martin | +74.778s |
| 13 | Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes | +75.746s |
| 14 | Alex Albon | Williams | +80.000s |
| 15 | Esteban Ocon | Haas | +83.043s |
| 16 | Isack Hadjar | Racing Bulls | +92.807s |
| 17 | Franco Colapinto | Alpine | +1 lap |
| 18 | Gabriel Bortoleto | Sauber | +1 lap |
| 19 | Pierre Gasly | Alpine | + 1 lap |
| 20 | Carlos Sainz | Williams | DNF |
George Russell finished sixth for Mercedes, followed by Yuki Tsunoda in seventh in the second Red Bull. Nico Hulkenberg placed eighth for Sauber, while Oliver Bearman scored ninth for Hass. Fernando Alonso took tenth place for Aston Martin.
Also Read: F1: Mercedes Confirms 2026 Driver Line-Up with George Russell and Kimi Antonelli
The only retirement came from Carlos Sainz after contact with Kimi Antonelli’s Mercedes. The Austin result keeps the title race open and moves the championship fight to Mexico City next weekend.
