Max Verstappen is Back with Dominant Sprint Race Win in Texas

October 19, 2024Ramon Jones
Formula 1

Max Verstappen won from pole position in the US grand prix sprint race this afternoon. The win meant Verstappen gained 1 point on a recently surging Lando Norris who has lifted McLaren ahead of Red bull for most of the second half of the 2024 F1 season. However, today it was Verstappen who led from the front and would not look back. Verstappen said, “It was not too bad, feels a bit like old times! I’m very happy with today. I think of course if you look at the whole race Ferrari was also very quick, but I think for us finally we were racing again. Normally in the race we’re always looking back behind us, but now we could just do our own race and we had good pace.”

Despite Verstappen’s documented distaste for the sprint race weekend format its clear he has a knack for winning them. Additionally, Red Bull gained points on McLaren as they chase the orange in the constructors championship race after falling behind in the mid season.

Lando Norris Late Lock Up Costs Him

Lando norris was in a comfortable P2 until Carlos Sainz in his Ferrari took advantage of a late lock up by Norris which saw Sainz through to claim P2 in the sprint. Norris was under constant pressure from a surging Charles Leclerc behind. As the tires started to fall off Norris locked up again but was able to hold off Leclerc on the final lap of the race. Leclerc nearly wrecked both drivers after trying to back a pass and making slight contact with the back of Norris’ McLaren. However, crisis was avoided and both finished the race. No investigation findings were noted for the pass attempt.

Grand Prix qualifying is up next in a few hours time.

US Grand Prix Sprint Race Results

PosNoDriverCarLapsTime/retiredPts
11Max VerstappenRed Bull Racing Honda RBPT1931:06.1468
255Carlos SainzFerrari19+3.882s7
34Lando NorrisMcLaren Mercedes19+6.240s6
416Charles LeclercFerrari19+6.956s5
563George RussellMercedes19+15.766s4
644Lewis HamiltonMercedes19+18.724s3
720Kevin MagnussenHaas Ferrari19+25.161s2
827Nico HulkenbergHaas Ferrari19+26.588s1
911Sergio PerezRed Bull Racing Honda RBPT19+29.950s0
1081Oscar PiastriMcLaren Mercedes19+37.059s0
1122Yuki TsunodaRB Honda RBPT19+38.363s0
1243Franco ColapintoWilliams Mercedes19+39.460s0
1318Lance StrollAston Martin Aramco Mercedes19+41.236s0
1410Pierre GaslyAlpine Renault19+41.995s0
1531Esteban OconAlpine Renault19+42.804s0
1630Liam LawsonRB Honda RBPT19+44.008s0
1723Alexander AlbonWilliams Mercedes19+44.564s0
1814Fernando AlonsoAston Martin Aramco Mercedes19+46.807s0
1924Zhou GuanyuKick Sauber Ferrari19+52.842s0
2077Valtteri BottasKick Sauber Ferrari19+54.476s0